Gestão de um sistema de ordenha robotizada: estudo pós-implantação

Abstract

The current dairy farming landscape is characterized by increasing complexity and instability, requiring increasingly professionalized rural management. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the economic and productive performance of a dairy farm located in the countryside of the municipality of Chapecó, Santa Catarina, following the implementation of a robotic milking system. The research was configured as a case study, with a qualitative, applied, and descriptive approach. Data were collected from the farm's accounting and production records for two periods: September 2022 to August 2023 (Year 1) and September 2023 to August 2024 (Year 2). The analysis was based on productive and economic indicators. The results showed that, after the implementation of the robotic milking system, there was a significant increase in productivity, with the average daily milk production increasing by 16.18% (from 1,582.63 L/day to 1,838.65 L/day) and the production per lactating cow increasing from 29.86 L/day to 30.64 L/day. Total annual milk production also increased by 16.18%, and production per productive area increased from 14,478 L/ha to 16,820 L/ha, evidencing an optimized use of the existing area. From an economic point of view, the activity presented an accounting loss in Year 1 (net margin of -10.29%), evolving to an accounting profit in Year 2 (reduction in the loss to -3.50%), despite total revenue having grown by 5.79%. This transition reflects a gradual improvement in performance; however, the result was significantly impacted by financial expenses arising from the acquisition of financing and, rimarily, by the high depreciation of assets used in the activity. It was also observed that omitting depreciation in producers' financial analyses can mask the true profitability of the activity. It was concluded that the robotic milking system promotes notable improvements in time management, animal welfare, and production efficiency. However, to ensure the economic viability of the technology in the medium and long term, it is essential that producers implement rigorous financial planning and effective cost control.