Robotic Milking For Dairy Farms
With milk quotas due to be lifted in 2015, farmers will need all the help they can get and Teagasc (Irish agriculture and food development authority) is examining the viability of robotic milking systems for Irish farms. Robotic milking is a voluntary milking system, which allows cows to present themselves for milking as they wish, without the presence of the farmer. Each cow is fitted with a sensor so that when they enter for milking the robot can identify them and the focus of the research trial is to examine how robotic milking can be combined with pasture-based grazing.
Teagasc research is examining the viability of robotic milking systems integrated with grazing. This research endeavours to assess if this labour saving, knowledge-driven system of management is sustainable into the future. The successful integration of robotic milking systems with grazing has been achieved by implementing a three-way (or ABC) grazing system, maintaining high standards of grazing and herd management and adapting to assessing the information provided by robotic milking system.
