Initial ethological improvements for the management of cows milked by an automatic milking system

Fully automated dairy production is now possible with automatic milking systems. Cows should have access to all necessary resources such as food, water, minerals, cow brushes etc. and the milking process should start automatically. There are indications that not all cows adapt to the automatic system. Some cows appear to he more stressed than others which are milked twice daily in conventional milking par lour. Improvements al-e therefore recommended to reduce the stress for cows milked in an automatic milking system and to assist herd owners in optimising their management. These range from improving stockmanship and optimising the number of cows milked per system to cow traffic systems and the adaptation of routine work by stockmen and the cows behaviour. Attention to such aspects could improve the welfare of herds managed under this system.