AI in Dairy Farming: How Technology Is Changing Dairy Management and Decision-Making
Dairy farming has entered a completely different era of management.
Today’s dairy leaders aren’t just managing cows and employees anymore—they’re managing massive amounts of information. Between activity monitors, feed data, health alerts, milk production, reproduction metrics, and labor management, producers are constantly surrounded by data.
The challenge now isn’t finding information. It’s figuring out what to actually do with it. That’s exactly the problem Manny Salcedo has spent years trying to solve.
As the founder of Dairy Performance Network, Manny has built technology designed to help producers simplify decision-making and make data more actionable inside dairy operations. And according to Manny, artificial intelligence is about to change dairy management faster than most people realize.
Dairy Managers Are Drowning in Data
One of the biggest themes in Manny’s conversation on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast is the overwhelming amount of information modern dairies now manage every day.
Years ago, producers struggled because they didn’t have enough data.
Now the problem is the exact opposite.
There are reports everywhere. Dashboards everywhere. Alerts constantly going off. And for many dairy managers, it becomes difficult to know which numbers actually matter and which ones deserve immediate attention.
Manny believes technology should simplify management—not make it more complicated.
That’s where AI tools and integrated management systems are starting to reshape the industry.
AI Has the Potential to Simplify Decision-Making
Through tools like Dairy Stash and Ida, Manny and his team are building systems that help producers interact with dairy data in a much more practical way.
Instead of digging through spreadsheets or jumping between multiple software programs, AI-driven tools can help managers quickly identify problems, trends, and opportunities inside the operation.
Manny describes a future where dairy managers can simply ask questions in real time:
Which cows need attention today?
Where are we losing feed efficiency?
Which pens are underperforming?
What management issues need immediate action?
And instead of spending hours sorting through reports, the system helps provide answers almost instantly.
For producers already balancing labor shortages and time constraints, that kind of efficiency could completely change day-to-day management.
Technology Still Needs Human Leadership
One thing Manny emphasizes throughout the conversation is that technology doesn’t replace people—it supports better decision-making.
The best dairies will still need strong managers, strong employees, and strong communication.
AI can help identify problems faster. It can organize information more efficiently. It can automate repetitive tasks.
But leadership still matters.
According to Manny, the future dairy manager will need to balance three things really well:
Managing people
Managing cows
Managing technology
And learning how those pieces work together will become one of the biggest leadership skills in modern dairy farming.
The Future of Dairy Management Will Be Faster and More Connected
Manny envisions dairy operations becoming far more interconnected in the coming years.
Technology will continue improving communication between systems, helping producers make decisions faster and with more confidence. Things that currently take hours of analysis may eventually happen automatically in real time.
He gives examples of producers being able to identify a lame cow from across a pen and immediately use voice-command technology to sort her into treatment.
That kind of automation may sound futuristic, but according to Manny, the industry is much closer to that reality than many people realize.
And for younger producers entering the industry, understanding technology and AI will likely become just as important as understanding nutrition or reproduction.
Adaptability Will Matter More Than Ever
A major takeaway from Manny’s perspective is that adaptability will separate successful dairy managers moving forward.
Technology is evolving quickly. Systems are changing rapidly. And producers who stay curious and willing to learn will likely have a major advantage.
Manny’s own journey reflects that mindset.
Before building technology platforms, he spent years physically working on dairies and understanding the real-world challenges producers face every day. That practical experience helped shape his belief that technology only matters if it genuinely helps simplify life for dairy managers.
And ultimately, that’s the goal:
Helping producers spend less time fighting data and more time making meaningful decisions.
Here’s the Truth About AI in the Dairy Industry
Manny Salcedo believes the future of dairy farming will be shaped by the combination of technology, data, and strong leadership.
The producers who succeed moving forward will likely be the ones who:
Stay adaptable
Learn new systems
Use data strategically
Balance technology with strong people management
Because while AI is changing dairy management quickly, the heart of successful dairies will still come down to people making good decisions.
To hear the complete discussion, stream now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.
