Despite 2026 proving to be a difficult financial year on many farms, there is still huge interest in dairy equipment and milking technology options to reduce milking time, workload and costs on dairy farms.

Should reduced current profit margins put farmers off investing in dairy equipment? In the end, it comes down to thinking long term and making time and cost savings that justify the upfront investment.

First and foremost, it is essential to do your research and visit existing units. Given current capital costs, you need to make sure that any new dairy equipment investments will be fit for purpose for the next 20 years on the farm.

We profile two dairy farmers who have undertaken recent investments that are paying dividends in terms of time and cost savings.

Parlour type is always a point of debate and herringbone, rotary and robot parlours are all options being explored by farmers in recent years.

This week we look at one farm that has future-proofed collaborative farming in Limerick by investing in rotary milking parlours to reduce milking time and improve cow flow.

The farmer project-managed the development himself and, while it was a big investment, it has delivered significant time savings and created a more attractive workplace for share farming.

We also look at a farmer in Cork who has invested in a solar energy system to reduce electricity usage.

With rising energy prices, the project has been designed to dramatically reduce electricity costs and, by availing of grants and capital allowances, the project has delivered a handsome return on investment.