The UT East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center Little River Unit in Walland, Tennessee, hosted the ribbon cutting and demonstration of the new robotic milking technology on Tuesday, May 2. More than 120 attendees heard some very special dignitaries usher in a new era of dairy research and precision livestock farming research. Speakers included Tennessee Dairy Producers Association Executive Director Stan Butt, Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, UT System President Randy Boyd, UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman, UTIA Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Keith Carver, and UT AgResearch Dean Hongwei Xin.

The robotic milking system is expected to improve production efficiency and food supply chain robustness, as well as cow well-being. The robotic milking system is an integral part of the UT Precision Livestock Farming initiative.