Closed-loop, short interval flushing method and system for use in automated milking system dairies

摘要

A method and system for flushing an area of a robotic harvest dairy barn is presented. The method is based upon defining areas within the dairy barn that, by virtue of use of robots for “cow-initiated” milking will be maintained in a hygienically clean and dry condition with frequent flushings of short duration. The four areas of the barn felt to benefit from this frequent flushing including any of: an area immediately surrounding a robot; a holding area for staging cows for milking at the robot; a robot control room; and a milk collection room. In the relevant areas the flooring deck is configured to slope at its upper surface to define a drain area, the drain area including at least one grated drain positioned to collect any liquid deposited on the upper surface of the provided flooring deck. A collecting pipe network conducts liquid collected to a baffled tank.