(MENAFN- P&S Intelligence) The global milking automation market was valued at USD 1,189.9 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 2,082.8 million by 2032, advancing at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2025 to 2032, according to the latest industry research. This growth reflects the ongoing shift toward automated animal husbandry technologies that reduce labor costs, improve efficiency, and ensure the production of high-quality, contamination-free milk.

Market Growth Drivers

The rise of farm consolidation, coupled with an increase in average herd size, and government-backed incentives supporting livestock farming automation, are major factors fueling the market.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global milk production is set to rise 1.4% year-on-year from 2023, reaching 979 million tonnes in 2024, and projected to exceed 1,060 million tonnes by 2031 — intensifying the demand for efficient milking automation systems.

Automation Empowering Dairy Productivity

Small and medium-sized farms are increasingly collaborating and adopting mechanization to boost milk output. Governments worldwide are encouraging the use of AI and IoT-based dairy solutions through subsidies and infrastructure support.

For example, NABARD offers dairy farm subsidies in Karnataka to upgrade technology and create self-employment opportunities. India’s central government provides up to 50% (INR 2 crore) subsidy on equipment costs, while the Rashtriya Gokul Mission has introduced DNA-based buffalo selection, improving genetic gains by 2.5%.

Adoption Trends

The integration of automated milking equipment is becoming a strategic response to growing global milk demand. With rising herd sizes in regions such as Australia, India, New Zealand, and the U.S., farmers are embracing sensor-driven milking parlors, smart pulsators, and milk analyzers to boost yield and quality.

Over the last two decades, dairy farms worldwide have decreased by more than 55%, while average herd sizes have grown approximately 50%. This consolidation underscores the need for automation to maintain productivity and profitability.

Challenges

Despite strong growth prospects, lack of technical training and limited maintenance expertise in low- and middle-income countries pose barriers to adoption. The complex hardware and software of automated systems require skilled personnel for maintenance and troubleshooting — a gap that many rural regions are still striving to bridge.

Segment Insights

• Offering: Hardware remains the largest segment, while Software will witness the fastest growth, driven by the demand for real-time monitoring, productivity analytics, and efficient farm management.
• Farm Size: Large farms dominate with a 55% share, but medium farms are the fastest-growing segment, benefiting from favorable policies and affordable automation technologies.
• Species: Dairy cattle continue to lead, accounting for over 80% of global milk production, per FAO data.

Regional Outlook

Europe leads the global market with a 35% share, backed by advanced dairy mechanization in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific (APAC) is the fastest-growing region, forecast to register a 7.9% CAGR during the decade.

India, the world’s largest milk producer, has witnessed a production surge to 239.3 million tons in 2023–24, propelled by government support and technological modernization.

Other key growth regions include China, Australia, and New Zealand, where automation has become vital for sustaining milk quality and output.

Competitive Landscape

The milking automation market is highly fragmented, with leading players focusing on innovation, smart connectivity, and data-driven efficiency.

Key Companies:
DeLaval | GEA Group | Nedap N.V. | Allflex Livestock Intelligence | Afimilk Ltd. | Beco Dairy Automation Inc. | Boumatic | Dairymaster | Waikato Milking Systems | Milkwell Milking Systems

Recent Developments

• Jan 2025: DeLaval launched its next-gen Milking Automation control systems, enhancing connectivity and real-time data integration.
• Dec 2024: DeLaval unveiled the MA Series, advancing automated milking operations.
• Oct 2024: GEA Group introduced the DairyRobot R9600, combining robotic precision with traditional milking management.
• Jan 2024: Dairymaster launched RoboSpray for rotary milking parlors.
• Nov 2023: BouMatic released MagStream Milkmeter, ensuring uninterrupted milk and airflow management.

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