Barn-E PRO vs Astronaut A5 Next
Two robotic barn machines, one verified table. Every figure below is sourced and dated; vendor claims are labelled and kept apart from independent results.
Manure robot for solid barn floors from Dutch manure-handling specialist JOZ — a low 68 cm collector that carries the manure it gathers (350 or 500 litres depending on push width) instead of pushing a growing heap, navigating unlimited programmable routes via floor transponders. Connected to the JOZ Management System for 24/7 remote monitoring with SMS obstacle alerts; JOZ pitches the PRO generation as its most powerful robot for intensive conditions, coping with straw bedding up to 6 cm.
Best for: Dairy barns with solid floors and demanding conditions (straw bedding, long routes) wanting collected manure and precise transponder-guided routes with remote monitoring.Robotic milking system — cows milk on their own schedule around the clock; the A5 Next (June 2025) adds a new OS with over-the-air updates, laser+camera teat detection and an automatic milk filter.
Best for: Dairy herds of 50–120 cows seeking to cut milking labour and lift yield per cow.| Barn-E PRO Verified 2026-07-17 | Astronaut A5 Next Verified 2026-07-16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Task | Robotic barn | Robotic barn |
| Autonomy | Fully autonomous | Fully autonomous |
| Country of origin | Netherlands | Netherlands |
| Availability | Available now | Available now |
| EU market | CE-marked | CE-marked |
| Lead time | Not disclosed | ~20 wk |
| Last verified | 2026-07-17 | 2026-07-16 |
| Specifications | ||
| Power source | 2 × 12 V sealed batteries in series; 24 V / max 25 A charger, max 2 h charge | Mains electric · vacuum + compressed air |
| Required tractor power | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Dimensions | 68 cm high (70 cm minimum headroom); push width 155 cm or 185 cm | Single box ~3.5 × 2.5 m footprint |
| Weight | Not disclosed | Fixed installation |
| Min farm size | Sized per barn; ~550 m² (standard) to ~700 m² (extra-wide) per robot at 2-hour cleaning intervals | 50 cows / unit |
| Productivity | Up to 11 duty hours per 24 h at ~50/50 drive-charge cycle; 350 l (standard) or 500 l (extra-wide) manure capacity | ~60 cows per robot |
| Max speed | 6.5 m/min | Not applicable |
| Sensors | Floor transponders for route guidance; obstacle detection with SMS alerts | Laser + camera teat detection · milk MDi sensors · cow ID |
| Price & model | ||
| Price (EUR) | Not disclosed | €165,000 per unit, installed (indicative) |
| Native price | Not disclosed | €165,000 |
| Business model | Buy via JOZ and certified dealers | Buy · finance; national livestock-modernisation grants |
| Ongoing cost | Electricity; battery and wear parts; dealer service | €4,500/yr service; consumables + energy |
| Key outcome | ||
| Best verified result | Manure handling on solid floors Autonomous collection on unlimited transponder-guided routes, up to 11 h/day · vendor | Milking labour −73% · vendor |
| EU context | ||
| CE marking | CE marked | CE marked |
| Machinery Regulation | Compliant — Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (NL manufacturer) | Compliant — Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 |
| CAP subsidy | Eligible under rural-development livestock schemes | Eligible under rural-development livestock schemes |
"—" means the manufacturer has not disclosed the figure; we never estimate silently. Model either machine's payback with your own numbers on its ROI calculator page.