This study was undertaken to get a comprehensive idea about the favourable and unfavourable factors for adoption of dairy automation/ machinations as perceived by dairy farmers, and study the economic impact of semi-automatic milking machine for small, medium and large dairy unit using the analysis of total cost and monetary benefits. The study was carried out in north Indian states, 30 commercial dairy farmers were selected constituting a total of 150 respondents practicing commercial dairy farming under survey method of investigation. Results revealed that time saving in dairy farm operations, drudgery reduction, and maintenance of hygiene and quality of milk and milk products were perceived as top three favourable factors for adoption of dairy automation or machination. The high initial investment required for dairy automation, no extra milk price for hygiene and quality products through the adoption of dairy automation in the market, and high cost of equipment and less subsidy provided by the government were perceived as top three favourable factors for adoption of dairy automation or machination. The study indicated that adoption score of the respondents were not significantly correlated with age. It implies that age, education, family size land holding and experiences of dairy farming does not affect the adoption of dairy automation technologies. The additional monetary benefits apart from this economic benefit’s other benefits such as clean and hygiene milk, health care and management in economic terms were calculated about 43800, 39,600, and 64,000 per year for small, medium, and large dairy unit, respectively.

Keyword: Automation; Investment; Monetary benefits; Semi-automatic milking machine; survey.