Robotic milking in dairy farming

Abstract

In the last decade technical tools were developed for the full automation of the milking process. Solutions for different components of an automatic milking system (AMS), such as the milking stall, robot arm, teat sensing system, milking equipment and udder cleaning devices were found. In the Netherlands two companies are on the market with an automatic milking system. Some other countries are following in the near future. In an AMS situation cows are expected to visit voluntarily a milking stall several times daily. The attractiveness of the milking stall, lay-out of the barn and the introduction of a cow routing with special gates in the barn seem to be important in this respect. The effect of these systems on cow behaviour and welfare are studied. Automatic milking systems make it possible to increase the milking frequency. Increasing the milking frequency from twice to three times per day results in a higher yield of about 1000 kg milk per lactation. First steps have been made in the development of a control and management system to optimize the feeding and milking frequency for each cow individually. Under optimal conditions for cow traffic to and inside the AMS an occupation rate of 80% could be reached. In that case the capacity of a robotic milking stall will be about 6 milkings per hour under a regime of three daily milkings per cow. It is expected that automatic milking will contribute to a lower physical and mental load on the farmer. But it should be considered that the farmer is working with complicated equipment.