Auto-Grabber

The Auto-Grabber is a barn or coop automation device that collects animal products for the player. Once placed, it saves the player from manually milking or shearing animals, but it also removes the +5 friendship points normally gained from doing those actions by hand.

It becomes available after reaching Farming level 10. The day after that milestone, Marnie sends a letter in the mail, but the letter does not need to be read in order to buy Auto-Grabbers; they can be purchased as soon as the skill requirement is met.

Because the player is no longer manually interacting with animals for milking or shearing, animals in a barn with an Auto-Grabber will take longer to reach maximum friendship. This is especially noticeable before they reach 5 hearts. Since animals can lose 5–10 friendship if they are not interacted with, they will still gradually lose friendship even if they are fed and allowed outside. Using an Auto-Petter cancels out this drawback.