Evaluating Farm Technology Investment: A Case-by-Case Approach

Rhodri and Siwan Jones converted their family’s beef and sheep enterprise into a modern dairy farm. The study questioned whether further technological investments like heat detection collars and automatic calf feeders could boost efficiency and profitability.
Findings indicated that automatic calf feeders offered a 14% return on investment (ROI) with a seven-year payback period, outperforming heat detection collars, which had a 7.2% ROI over 14 years. The study was led by Conor Hogan, Dairy Programme Manager at Teagasc Moorepark, Ireland. It emphasized the importance of weighing technology investments against existing farm efficiency and financial returns.
While the feeders saved £1,525 annually in labor, extending the length of indoor feeding was a potential downside. Conversely, the minimal fertility gains from collars suggested limited utility for already efficient herds, such as the Joneses with their strong calving rates. Hogan recommended prioritizing investments in soil fertility and facility upgrades, followed cautiously by automation once foundational efficiencies were maximized.