EuroTier 2026 to put the spotlight on robotics in livestock farming
At EuroTier 2026, the international livestock farming trade fair taking place from 10 to 13 November in Hanover, Germany, robotics will be one of the key themes. Automated milking, feeding and cleaning systems reduce the workload on farm staff, increase the precision of operations and help address the shortage of labour. Demonstrations of milking robotics for dairy farms will take place as part of the special programme DLG Spotlight "Barn Robot Event."
The fair is held under the guiding theme "Intelligence in Animal Farming," alongside EnergyDecentral, the trade fair for decentralised energy supply. More than 2,100 companies and organisations from over 50 countries are expected to take part; the exhibition will occupy 13 halls and 220,000 square metres.
Robotics has made the greatest progress precisely in dairy farming. A milking robot can perform up to 200 milkings per day, freeing farmers from being tied to fixed milking times in the early morning and on weekends. Feeding robots mix individual ration components and deliver fresh feed several times a day, reducing feeding time by up to two-thirds; they retrieve hay, silage as well as mineral and protein supplements from storage, prepare balanced rations and push the feed towards the edge of the feed table. Cleaning and manure-removal robots are also becoming increasingly important: scraper robots clean alleys autonomously and are ever more often integrated directly into the design of new barns. Automated systems are used in poultry farming as well — robots move through poultry houses, keeping the birds active and collecting data on the indoor climate.
As part of the "Barn Robot Event," visitors will be able to see modern milking robotics in action through moderated live demonstrations. The programme focuses on three areas: retrofit solutions (conversion from conventional milking parlours to robotic systems), new-build solutions, and milking in large herds.
