Abstract :
It might sound far-fetched but the technology known as an Automated Voluntary Milking System (AMS) was pioneered by Lely Industries, a family-owned business based in Holland, who first invented the robotic milking machine 17 years ago. They now have over 9,000 robots installed around the world, carrying out over 1.2 million milkings per day. In the UK the latest version of its robot, the Lely Astronaut A3 Next, recently won the prestigious RABDF (Royal Association British Dairy Farmers) Livestock and Machinery award. When the possibility of robotic milking was first discussed, one of the concerns was that animal would suffer as farmers became less hands-on. The reality seems to be the opposite, as it frees up farmers to spend more time taking care of a myriad of farm duties rather than standing in the parlour for hours each day. It also appears that the majority of cows actually prefer the robot to conventional milking, as it gives them greater choice of when and how often to be milked and a highly reproducible routine.
