Automatic milking

Such a milking routine imposes restrictions on the time management and personal life of an individual farmer, as the farmer is committed to milking in the early morning and in the evening for seven days a week, regardless of personal health, family responsibilities or social schedule.

Specialized machines apply a steady vacuum to the cow's teat, gently sucking out the milk and transferring it to a container.

Additionally, these machines periodically apply external pressure to the entire teat, which helps maintain proper blood circulation.

Automatic cleaning and attachment of milking cups is a complex task, requiring accurate detection of teat position and a dexterous mechanical manipulator.

Since the 1970s, much research effort has been expended in investigating methods to alleviate time management constraints in conventional dairy farming, culminating in the development of the automated voluntary milking system.

The barn may be arranged such that access to the main feeding area can only be obtained by passing the milking unit.

This low capacity is convenient for lower-cost design of the robot arm and associated control system, as a window of several minutes is available for each cow and high-speed operation is not required.

AMS units have been available commercially since the early 1990s, and have proved relatively successful in implementing the voluntary milking method.

[6] A mobile variation of robotic milking, adapted to tie-stall configuration (stanchion barns), is used in Canada.

In this configuration, the AMS travels in the centre isle of the barn approaching cows from behind to milk them in their stalls.