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The choice of an investment in a milking system has a long-term influence on the labour organisation and cost structure of dairy farms. Based on Swiss farm-level accountancy and survey data for 2020, the structure and economic performance of 455 farms grouped by different milking systems and regions are analysed. The results show that farms with bucket or pipeline milking systems are smaller than farms with milking parlours and automatic milking systems. The physical labour input per animal is lower with modern milking systems. Farmers’ investments in automatic milking systems are a more recent development, occurring more frequently on farms with larger herds. Additionally, the more recent the milking system, the lower the profitability. The milking system has no influence on profitability