Optimization of Cow Management and Sorting Capabilities with Robotic Milking: the Eastern Canada Experience

摘要

In Eastern Canada, since the year 2000, numerous dairy facilities have been built and equipped with robotic milking systems. The dairy herd sizes vary from 70-75 dairy cows up to 700-750 dairy cows. The milking robot offers the capabilities to performmanagement work with the computerized accesses and selection gates. The objective of the design research is related to the development of barn floor plans to optimize the selection and segregation of cows. The uses of selection gates for heifer training, sick cows or general cow work (A.I., hoof trimming, care services, etc...) is revised. Different floor layouts and cow circulation patterns are presented and discussed.