Automatic milking systems (AMS) have the potential to increase dairy farm productivity and profitability; however, adoption rates, particularly in pasture-based systems, have been lower than expected. The objectives of this study were to compare the physical and economic performance of pasture-based AMS with conventional milking systems (CMS) and to identify gaps for improving AMS productivity and profitability. We used data from 14 AMS and 100 CMS located in the main Australian dairy regions and collected over 3 yr (2015–2016, 2016–2017, 2017–2018). Farms within similar regions and herd sizes were compared. Results showed that all the main physical performance indicators evaluated such as milk production per cow, milk production per hectare, pasture grazed per hectare, or milk solids per full-time equivalent were similar between systems. The AMS farms had higher overhead costs such as depreciation and repairs and maintenance; however, no differences in total labor costs were observed between systems. Profitability, measured as earnings before interest and tax, operating profit margin, and return on total assets, was not significantly different between AMS and CMS. Opportunities for improving pasture utilization, labor efficiency, and robot utilization in AMS farms were identified. Improving efficiency in these areas could improve productivity and profitability of these systems, and therefore increase the interest of this technology.

自动挤奶系统（AMS）具有提高奶牛场生产率和盈利能力的潜力；但是，采用率，特别是在基于牧场的系统中，已经低于预期。这项研究的目的是比较牧场型AMS与常规挤奶系统（CMS）的物理和经济性能，并找出提高AMS生产率和盈利能力的差距。我们使用了来自澳大利亚主要乳制品地区的14个AMS和100个CMS的数据，并收集了3年（2015–2016、2016–2017、2017–2018）的数据。比较了相似区域内的农场和畜群规模。结果表明，所评估的所有主要物理性能指标，例如每头牛的产奶量，每公顷的产奶量，每公顷的牧场放牧量或每当量当量的乳固体，在系统之间是相似的。AMS农场的折旧以及维修和保养等间接费用较高；但是，系统之间的总人工成本没有差异。AMS和CMS之间的获利能力以未计利息和税项的利润，营业利润率和总资产回报率衡量，并没有显着差异。确定了在AMS农场中提高牧场利用率，劳动效率和机器人利用率的机会。在这些领域中提高效率可以提高这些系统的生产率和盈利能力，因此增加了对该技术的兴趣。和总资产收益率，AMS和CMS之间没有显着差异。确定了在AMS农场中提高牧场利用率，劳动效率和机器人利用率的机会。在这些领域中提高效率可以提高这些系统的生产率和盈利能力，因此增加了对该技术的兴趣。和总资产收益率，AMS和CMS之间没有显着差异。确定了在AMS农场中提高牧场利用率，劳动效率和机器人利用率的机会。在这些领域中提高效率可以提高这些系统的生产率和盈利能力，因此增加了对该技术的兴趣。