Technology is becoming an increasingly important part of everyday life on Irish dairy farms, but new research shows that farmers are far more likely to invest in practical automation than some of the more advanced technologies available.

Automatic bulk tank washers, manure scrapers and in-parlour feeding systems are among the most widely adopted technologies, while milking robots and virtual fencing remain at the opposite end of the scale.

These are some of the findings from a new study by Teagasc researchers Lisa Parce, Paula Palma-Molina and Jason Loughrey, published in Frontiers in Animal Science in September 2026. The research examined the use of 18 different technologies across six areas of dairy farming: cleaning, feeding, milking, herd management, grassland management and financial management.

Using information collected through the 2024 National Farm Survey, the researchers analysed responses from 250 dairy farms, representing an estimated 11,880 dairy farms nationally.

The findings provide an interesting picture of how Irish dairy farmers are adopting technology, particularly as larger herds, labour availability and the need for greater efficiency continue to influence investment decisions.

Cleaning technologies lead the way

Cleaning equipment emerged as the most widely adopted category of technology on Irish dairy farms. Some 93% of farmers surveyed reported using at least one of the cleaning technologies included in the study.

Automatic bulk tank washers were the single most widely used technology, with an adoption rate of 86%. These systems automate the washing process following milk collection, reducing the amount of manual work required and helping to ensure consistent cleaning procedures.

Automatic manure scrapers were also widely used, with 78% of farmers reporting having them installed.

Such systems reduce the requirement for manually scraping passageways and can help maintain cleaner housing conditions.

The findings suggest that farmers have been particularly willing to adopt technologies that automate repetitive jobs which must be completed regularly.

Automatic milking machine washers were another technology examined, with 45% of farmers reporting their use.

Overall, cleaning technologies have become a well-established feature of dairy farming, rather than being confined to larger or more technologically advanced farms.

Automatic feeding systems

Feeding technologies were the second most widely adopted category, with 74% of farmers reporting using at least one of the feeding technologies examined.

Automatic in-parlour feeders were particularly common, with 70% of respondents reporting their use.

These systems allow concentrates to be dispensed automatically during milking, reducing the requirement for manual feeding.

Their widespread adoption reflects the importance of simplifying routine tasks, particularly on farms where large numbers of cows are milked twice daily.

Automatic calf feeders were also included in the research.

These systems can reduce the time required for feeding calves and provide greater flexibility around feeding routines, particularly during the busy spring calving period.

However, the research also highlights that not all feeding technologies have experienced the same level of uptake.

Automatic forage feeders were among the least widely adopted technologies, with just 10% of farmers reporting their use.

This illustrates the differences between technologies that fit easily into existing Irish dairy systems and those which may require greater changes to farm infrastructure or management.

Milking parlour technology

Automatic cluster removers have become one of the most popular technologies in Irish milking parlours.

The research found that 57% of farmers surveyed had adopted the technology.

Cluster removers automatically detach milking units when milk flow falls below a predetermined level, reducing the need for operators to manually remove clusters.

They can also help reduce operator workload and improve consistency during milking. Interestingly, automatic cluster removers were the technology most frequently identified by farmers as providing particularly important benefits on their farms. A total of 102 respondents selected cluster removers when asked to identify a technology they used and considered especially beneficial.

Animal health and welfare, labour savings and social benefits were among the factors farmers associated with the technology.

The research also found a substantial difference in herd size between farms with and without automatic cluster removers.

Farmers using the technology had an average herd size of approximately 141 cows, compared with 69 cows among those who had not adopted it.

This indicates that automatic cluster removers are particularly attractive on larger dairy farms, where reducing the workload associated with milking can be especially valuable.

Milking robots remain uncommon

Despite growing interest in robotic milking, the research found that adoption remains relatively low in Ireland. Just 2% of the farms surveyed reported using milking robots.

The researchers noted that wider estimates suggest approximately 3% to 4% of Irish dairy farms have installed robotic milking systems.

This contrasts with considerably higher adoption levels reported in some other European countries.

Milking robots can offer farmers greater flexibility by reducing the requirement to be physically present for conventional milking sessions. However, their suitability for pasture-based systems, along with the substantial investment required, continues to influence adoption.

Indeed, milking robots were the technology most frequently identified by farmers as having significant barriers to adoption.

A total of 149 farmers selected robotic milking when asked about technologies they had not adopted and considered difficult to introduce.

Financial considerations were the most prominent barriers.

The findings suggest that while farmers recognise the potential benefits of robotic milking, the investment remains difficult to justify on many farms.

Herd management goes digital

Digital herd management is another area where technology has become increasingly common.

Some 59% of farmers surveyed reported using a herd management app.

These applications allow farmers to record and access information relating to individual animals, including breeding, calving, health and other management activities.

Having this information readily available can support decision-making and reduce reliance on paper-based records.

Automatic cow identification systems were also examined in the research.

These systems can identify individual cows electronically, supporting the collection and use of animal-level information.

Farmers who identified automatic cow identification as a particularly beneficial technology placed considerable importance on animal health and welfare.

Other technologies examined included individual cow activity sensors and automatic drafting systems.

Such technologies can support heat detection, animal monitoring and the movement of cows through handling facilities.

However their adoption varies, reflecting differences in cost, herd size and the benefits farmers expect to achieve.

Grassland management

Digital grassland management tools are also becoming more established on Irish dairy farms.

The study found that 48% of respondents were using a grassland management app.

These tools help farmers record grass measurements, monitor grass availability and make decisions around grazing management.

PastureBase Ireland was specifically examined when researchers investigated the benefits farmers associated with technology.

Unlike some of the labour-saving technologies, farmers using PastureBase placed greater emphasis on environmental and financial benefits.

This reflects the different role of grassland management software, where the main value lies in supporting decisions rather than physically completing farm tasks.

Virtual fencing, meanwhile, remains at a very early stage of adoption.

Only 2% of respondents reported using the technology.

Although virtual fencing has the potential to change how grazing animals are managed, the findings show that it has yet to achieve widespread uptake on Irish dairy farms.

Financial management

Financial management applications recorded the lowest adoption rate of the six technology categories examined.

Just 18% of farmers reported using a financial management app.

However, the researchers noted that only one technology was included in this category, which may have influenced the overall result.

Financial management software can help farmers monitor business performance, analyse costs and support financial planning.

The research found that users of financial management applications tended to have larger herds and higher farm incomes per hectare than non-users.

What influences adoption?

Across the different technologies examined, farm size and herd size emerged as important factors influencing adoption.

Farmers operating larger dairy enterprises were generally more likely to have invested in technology.

The proportion of hired labour was also higher among adopters of the representative technologies examined in each category.

Another notable finding was the association between nitrates derogation status and technology adoption.

Farmers operating under derogation were more likely to adopt the technologies examined across all six categories.

Age also played a role in certain areas, with younger farmers more likely to use some cleaning, grassland and herd management technologies.

However, agricultural education was not significantly associated with adoption in the six representative technology comparisons.

Where next?

The research shows that technology is already firmly embedded in Irish dairy farming, although the level of adoption differs considerably between individual technologies.

While automatic washers, scrapers and feeding systems are widely used, more expensive or complex technologies, such as robotic milking and virtual fencing, remain relatively uncommon.

Perhaps the clearest message is that farmers are prioritising technologies that offer practical benefits within their existing systems.

As labour pressures continue and dairy farmers seek to improve efficiency, the technologies that reduce routine workloads and provide useful management information are likely to remain central to investment decisions.