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Review: Milking robot utilization, a successful precision livestock farming evolution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 April 2016

A. J. John ,
C. E. F. Clark ,
M. J. Freeman ,
K. L. Kerrisk ,
S. C. Garcia  and
I. Halachmi
A. J. John*
Affiliation:
Dairy Science Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
C. E. F. Clark
Affiliation:
Dairy Science Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
M. J. Freeman
Affiliation:
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Dairy Centre, University of Tasmania, Burnie 7320, Tasmania
K. L. Kerrisk
Affiliation:
Dairy Science Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
S. C. Garcia
Affiliation:
Dairy Science Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
I. Halachmi
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Centre, The Institute of Agricultural Engineering, P. O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
*
† E-mail: ajoh7559@uni.sydney.edu.au
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Abstract

Automatic milking systems (AMS), one of the earliest precision livestock farming developments, have revolutionized dairy farming around the world. While robots control the milking process, there have also been numerous changes to how the whole farm system is managed. Milking is no longer performed in defined sessions; rather, the cow can now choose when to be milked in AMS, allowing milking to be distributed throughout a 24 h period. Despite this ability, there has been little attention given to milking robot utilization across 24 h. In order to formulate relevant research questions and improve farm AMS management there is a need to determine the current knowledge gaps regarding the distribution of robot utilization. Feed, animal and management factors and their interplay on levels of milking robot utilization across 24 h for both indoor and pasture-based systems are here reviewed. The impact of the timing, type and quantity of feed offered and their interaction with the distance of feed from the parlour; herd social dynamics, climate and various other management factors on robot utilization through 24 h are provided. This novel review draws together both the opportunities and challenges that exist for farm management to use these factors to improved system efficiency and those that exist for further research.

Keywords

automatic milking systemfeeding behaviourrobot idle timegrazingPLF (precision livestock farming)
Type
Review Article
Information
animal , Volume 10 , Issue 9 , September 2016 , pp. 1484 - 1492
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2016 

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