Ukrainian Dairy Company (UMK, Kyiv region) will begin construction of the first phase of the world’s largest robotic farm for group milking in 2026, according to a press release from equipment supplier GEA.
According to the report, the project involves the launch of 60 milking robots, 24 of which will be put into operation in the first phase. A special feature of the complex will be the use of batch milking technology (automated group milking – IF-U), which combines loose housing with automated milking.
“This is a unique project not only for Ukraine but also for the global dairy industry in terms of its scale and the number of innovative solutions implemented. Milking will be performed by DairyRobot R9650 robots manufactured by the German company GEA Farm Technologies GmbH,” said Alexey Antonov, product manager at GEA Ukraine.
The company emphasized that the introduction of a robotic system will reduce labor costs, avoid risky interaction between staff and animals, and ensure individual feeding for each cow. Most of the technological equipment will be located in the basement under the robots, which will minimize the impact of maintenance on the milking process.
Ukrainian Dairy Company LLC (UMK) was founded in 2006. It specializes in the production of extra-class milk based on three branches with a total herd of 12,000 head of cattle (including 4,400 cows). The production capacity of the enterprise is 170 tons of milk per day. The company’s land bank is 11,000 hectares. A biogas station for organic waste disposal and energy generation operates on the farm’s territory. The enterprise has the status of a special raw material zone for the production of baby food. The ultimate beneficiary of the company is Vitaliy Haiduk.
GEA Group AG (Germany) is one of the world’s largest suppliers of systems and technological solutions for the food, pharmaceutical, and dairy industries. GEA has been operating in Ukraine for over 25 years. The group has two local offices in Ukraine, a service department, and a spare parts warehouse.
