The impact of phantom training systems to habituate heifers to automatic milking systems

摘要

The automatic milking system (AMS) is growing in popularity as it is based on individual voluntary milking visits and supports animal welfare. The first contact of heifers with AMS is associated with stress, because they are not familiar with that system at their first milking contact shortly after the stressful parturition. This stress can negatively affect the milk yield and influence animal health. The objective of this study is to examine if training at an AMS-phantom before birth will support the health of the heifers in the future, aiding increased animal welfare.