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Precision Livestock Investment Calculator

Explore the economic outcomes of a robotic milking or heat detection investment using your farm data and assumptions.

Select a technology, enter your farm information and check the prerequisites. You can replace prices and technical assumptions with your own records.

Model scope and assumptions

Why these two technologies? The paper’s pool of 32 publications focuses mainly on robotic milking and heat detection and reproductive management. These are therefore the two technologies covered by the tool. Health, calving and feeding monitoring are outside the current scope.

Default values are optimistic. Baseline inputs are drawn from publications, official data and market prices. Where ranges are available, values near the investment-favourable end are labelled Optimistic . The tool also calculates a pessimistic scenario. All inputs can be replaced with your own data.

Optimistic baseline values Preset inputs are starting examples. Review price and performance assumptions before calculating.

1Which technology are you considering?

Key drivers include cows and milk per robot (capacity utilisation), wages, changes in milk yield, robot price, maintenance and useful life (Rotz et al., 2003; Salfer et al., 2017; Gargiulo et al., 2020, 2022).

Changing the technology updates only untouched fields. Values you edited are retained.

2Your farm

Read the short help text below each input. Open “Example / how to fill this in” for more detail.

Count cows currently producing milk. Exclude heifers, calves and dry cows.
Example / how to fill this in

If the herd has 150 cows but only 120 are being milked, enter 120.

Source and baseline Assumption
Example farm: two robots at full capacity. Baseline 130; you can edit this.
Enter the daily average per lactating cow, not the yield of your best cow.
Example / how to fill this in

A total of 3,000 kg/day from 120 lactating cows gives 3,000 ÷ 120 = 25 kg/cow/day.

Source and baseline Assumption
Example value. Baseline 25; you can edit this.
Enter the full-time equivalent number of paid staff working in the barn.
Example / how to fill this in

One full-time worker and one half-time worker count as 1.5 people.

Source and baseline Assumption
Example farm. Baseline 2; you can edit this.
Enter the full-time equivalent of family members regularly working without wages.
Example / how to fill this in

Two people each working half a day count as one full-time person.

Source and baseline Assumption
Example farm. Baseline 1; you can edit this.
Include wages, social insurance, meals and accommodation in the hourly cost of one worker. The helper below converts a monthly total.
Example / how to fill this in

For a monthly total of TRY 39,000, this tool uses 39,000 ÷ 195 = TRY 200/hour.

Source and baseline Official data
2026 minimum-wage employer cost of TRY 40,214/month ÷ 195 hours (Minimum wage, 2026). Baseline 206; you can edit this.
How will the saved time be used?
Saved time creates cash value only when paid labour is reduced or the time generates other income. The first option is optimistic.
Include wages and benefits. This helper divides the monthly cost by 195 hours.

3Is your farm ready?

If any answer is “No”, address that prerequisite before relying on the economic result.

Do you know the size of the problem you want this technology to solve?

Why do we ask? Benefits depend on improvement over your current situation. A small existing problem leaves less room for improvement.

How should I answer?

Yes: you have records, such as the share of heats missed or time spent milking. Partly: you only have an estimate. No: you do not know the current performance.

Is it clear how you will continue without this investment?

Why do we ask? Benefits are measured against the alternative you would otherwise use. A good current method may leave a smaller advantage for the new system.

How should I answer?

Yes: the current method is defined, such as visual observation, timed insemination or the existing milking parlour. Partly: equipment needs replacement but the alternative has not yet been decided.

Is your barn ready: power, internet, space and equipment compatibility?

Why do we ask? Leaving necessary adaptation costs out of the investment would make the comparison incomplete.

How should I answer?

Yes: no adaptation is needed. Partly: minor work is needed; include its cost in installation. No: major adaptation is needed.

Is someone available to check and respond to system alerts every day?

Why do we ask? An alert has no economic benefit if nobody acts on it. This answer also sets the probability of a timely response.

How should I answer?

Yes: a responsible person and response plan are in place (90%). Partly: someone is available but checks are irregular (60%). No: nobody is available (30%).

Can service staff and spare parts reach you quickly after a breakdown?

Why do we ask? Long interruptions can require manual work and cause losses.

How should I answer?

Ask the supplier about local service times, spare-part availability and your ownership of and access to the data. Answer Yes if these are assured.

Can you finance the investment without putting the farm under cash pressure?

Why do we ask? A profitable investment can still create cash-flow difficulties when instalments fall due.

How should I answer?

Yes: the payment plan is comfortably covered by current income. Partly: some months would be difficult. No: the payments cannot be covered.

4Prices and technical assumptions

Replace preset inputs with farm records or supplier quotations where available. Source information can be expanded under each field.

Review / edit inputs

These inputs come from publications, official data and market prices (October 2026). Sources are shown under each field and at the bottom of the page. Use your own records or supplier quotation where available.

Investment and annual costs
Enter the number of cows one robot can reliably milk under your farm conditions. Consider the supplier capacity together with your milking routine.
Example / how to fill this in

For 130 cows at 65 cows per robot, the model calculates two robots.

Source and baseline Market dataOptimistic
50–70 cows per robot; a value near the upper end was selected (CCF Bank, 2025). Baseline 65; you can edit this.
Enter the purchase price of one robot in TRY, not the total for all robots.
Example / how to fill this in

A quotation of TRY 14 million for two robots means TRY 7 million per robot.

Source and baseline Market dataOptimistic
Lower end of USD 150,000–230,000 range × TRY 49.15/USD (CCF Bank, 2025; Exchange rates, 2 October 2026). Baseline 7370000; you can edit this.
Enter additional installation, barn adaptation and training costs per robot.
Example / how to fill this in

If these costs are already included in the robot quotation, do not count them again here.

Source and baseline AssumptionOptimistic
Assumed minor adaptation of the existing barn, approximately 10% of robot price. Baseline 750000; you can edit this.
Enter annual maintenance and service costs for one robot, not for all robots together.
Example / how to fill this in

A service cost of TRY 20,000/month means TRY 240,000/year.

Source and baseline Market dataOptimistic
Service-only contract EUR 4,800/year × TRY 55.38/EUR; reported range EUR 2,640–13,750 (Farmers Journal, 2024; Exchange rates, 2 October 2026). Baseline 266000; you can edit this.
Performance, labour and production
Enter the expected net reduction in total labour after adoption. Include new cleaning, checking and fetching tasks.
Example / how to fill this in

A reduction from 10 to 7 labour hours per day means 30%.

Source and baseline LiteratureOptimistic
36% reduction in total labour, the upper end of a 29–36% range (Shortall et al., 2016; Bijl et al., 2007). Baseline 36; you can edit this.
Enter the expected change in milk yield relative to current yield as a percentage.
Example / how to fill this in

An increase from 25 to 26 kg means 4%. Enter 0 if no increase is expected.

Source and baseline LiteratureOptimistic
Upper part of a 2–12% milk-yield range; 5% scenarios have also been used (Cogato et al., 2021; Rotz et al., 2003). Baseline 10; you can edit this.
Enter the unit milk price actually received by your farm. Replace the baseline with your own sales records.
Example / how to fill this in

Keep a consistent unit basis for milk price, yield and cost assumptions.

Source and baseline Official data
National Milk Council reference price, effective from 1 May 2026 (National Milk Council, 2026). Baseline 24.3; you can edit this.
Enter the extra feed cost needed for one additional kg of milk, not the cow’s total daily feed cost.
Example / how to fill this in

If one additional kg of milk requires 0.4 kg of feed, multiply 0.4 by your feed price per kg.

Source and baseline Market data
0.4 kg feed per additional kg of milk × TRY 20.43/kg feed (TZOB, 2026). Baseline 8.2; you can edit this.
Enter daily hours for one person. Do not add the hours of all workers here.
Example / how to fill this in

If three people each work eight hours a day, enter 8.

Source and baseline Official data
45 weekly working hours divided across five days. Baseline 9; you can edit this.
Useful life and pessimistic scenario
Enter the expected economically useful life of the system. It may differ from the warranty period.
Example / how to fill this in

Consider replacement, technical support and your operating conditions together.

Source and baseline LiteratureOptimistic
Between 10-year depreciation and findings suggesting a useful life of 13 years or more (Shortall et al., 2016; Salfer et al., 2017). Baseline 12; you can edit this.
This rate converts future income and costs to present values. The current model should be interpreted using constant-price assumptions.
Example / how to fill this in

A real rate is the return above inflation. Do not substitute a nominal loan interest rate without adjustment.

Source and baseline Literature
5%, the most common rate in the cited literature; range 3.5–5% (Discount rates in the literature). Baseline 5; you can edit this.
This tests a reduction in projected benefits in the pessimistic scenario; it is not an observed loss rate.
Example / how to fill this in

Selecting 25% makes the model use 75% of baseline benefits.

Source and baseline Assumption
Selected stress-test rate for the pessimistic scenario. Baseline 25; you can edit this.
This tests higher investment and operating costs in the pessimistic scenario.
Example / how to fill this in

Selecting 15% multiplies the relevant baseline costs by 1.15.

Source and baseline Assumption
Selected stress-test rate for the pessimistic scenario. Baseline 15; you can edit this.
Compare both scenarios when you are ready.The calculation uses your selected technology and the values entered in this form.
Start again

Sources for baseline inputs

  1. National Milk Council, 2026. Raw milk reference price TRY 24.30/L from 1 May 2026 (3.6% fat, 3.2% protein); the 16 July decision held it unchanged through October. https://www.haberturk.com/ekonomi/usk-cig-sutun-fiyatini-sabit-birakti-3899072
  2. TZOB, 2026. Union of Turkish Chambers of Agriculture: September 2026 average dairy feed price TRY 20,434/tonne, announced 1 October 2026; cited via a secondary source. https://www.devletdestekli.com/tarim-kredi-yem-fiyatlari-2026-guncel-liste-50-kg-cuval/
  3. Minimum wage, 2026. 2026 gross minimum wage TRY 33,030; employer cost TRY 40,214/month for non-manufacturing with incentives. EY Türkiye. https://www.ey.com/tr_tr/insights/tax/2026-asgari-ucret
  4. Exchange rates, 2 October 2026. Free-market rates: USD 1 = TRY 49.15, EUR 1 = TRY 55.38. Bloomberg HT. https://www.bloomberght.com/dolar-ne-kadar-oldu-2-ekim-2026-dolar-kurunda-son-durum-ne-pkh2-3790079
  5. CCF Bank, 2025. USD 150,000–230,000 per robot; 50–70 cows per robot; annual service contracts from several thousand to over USD 10,000 (13 August 2025). https://ccf.us/the-future-of-dairy-farming-a-deep-dive-into-the-financial-technical-components-of-robotic-milking-systems/
  6. Farmers Journal, 2024. Annual robot service costs: Lely approximately EUR 2,640–3,070; DeLaval service only EUR 4,800, full package EUR 13,750; GEA EUR 3,160–3,600 (7 August 2024). https://www.farmersjournal.ie/dairy/management/robot-wars-what-can-farmers-expect-to-pay-for-service-costs-829813
  7. Cogato et al., 2021. Cogato, A. et al. (2021). Challenges and tendencies of automatic milking systems (AMS): A 20-years systematic review. Animals, 11(2), 356. Milk-yield increases of 2–12% citing Jacobs and Siegford (2012); some studies found no increase. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7912558
  8. Shortall et al., 2016. Shortall et al. (2016). J. Dairy Sci. 99, 7700–7713. 36% lower labour requirement; 5% interest; milking equipment depreciated over 10 years. Paper reference pool. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11256
  9. Bijl et al., 2007. Bijl et al. (2007). J. Dairy Sci. 90, 239–248. 29% lower labour on robotic farms. Paper reference pool. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(07)72625-5
  10. Salfer et al., 2017. Salfer et al. (2017). J. Dairy Sci. 100, 7739–7749. Useful life of at least 13 years for sustained positive outcomes. Paper reference pool. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11976
  11. Rotz et al., 2003. Rotz et al. (2003). J. Dairy Sci. 86, 4167–4177. Scenario with a sustained 5% milk-yield increase. Paper reference pool. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(03)74032-6
  12. Benz et al., 2024. Benz et al. (2024). agricultural engineering.eu 79(2). Milking accounts for more than one quarter of total labour. Paper reference pool. https://doi.org/10.15150/ae.2024.3309
  13. Rutten et al., 2014. Rutten et al. (2014). J. Dairy Sci. 97, 6869–6887. Assumed detection rates: visual observation 50%, activity meter 80%. Paper reference pool. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-7948
  14. Dolecheck et al., 2016. Dolecheck et al. (2016). J. Dairy Sci. 99, 10182–10193. Seven-year investment horizon and detection rates of 60–80%. Paper reference pool. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-10364
  15. Mayo et al., 2020 (review). Economic viability of adoption of automated oestrus detection technologies on dairy farms: A review. Animals, 10(7), 1241. Activity-meter detection 80–90% citing Firk et al. (2002); visual observation at least three times daily for 20–30 minutes; 30% lower labour cost; payback commonly 3.5–8 years. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1241
  16. Dolecheck and Bewley, University of Kentucky. How much are you losing from extra days open? Producer and industry estimates: USD 3–5 per additional day open. https://afs.mgcafe.uky.edu/files/how_much_are_you_losing_from_extra_days_open.pdf
  17. Milkopro, 2026. Cow pedometer prices: EUR 155–300/cow for pedometer systems and EUR 180–250 for neck sensors. https://mlgram.com/inek-pedometre-fiyatlari/
  18. Actimoo sales listing, 2026. Actimoo heat monitoring package: 20 activity meters plus one reader TRY 400,000; additional activity meter TRY 18,000. https://magaza.benimsurum.com/actimoo-kizginlik-takip-sistemi-paket-20-aktivitemetre-1-okuyucu
  19. Edwardes et al., 2022. Edwardes et al. (2022). J. Dairy Sci. 105, 9682–9701. One minute per alert for verification in the system. Paper reference pool. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21726
  20. Discount rates in the literature. Shortall et al. (2016) 5%; Ettema et al. (2020) 5%; Pfrombeck et al. (2025) 4%; Tangorra and Calcante (2018) 3.5%. Paper reference pool.

Foreign-currency prices were converted at 2 October 2026 exchange rates (USD 1 = TRY 49.15, EUR 1 = TRY 55.38). Overseas prices may differ from Turkish supplier prices; obtain a local quotation.