Abstract
I clarified the factors affecting the performance of three robotic milkers of L company to gauge the possibility of wide spread dissemination of robotic milkers in Japan.
1) Cotinuous feeding of silage on the Yoshida Farm provided better milking performance than the periodic feeding on the Baba Farm.
2) L company states that the maximum capacity of a one stall robotic milker is 180 cows per day. This means in a barn with 60 cows there would be 3 milkings per day.
The three robotic milkers we tested never reached their maximum capacity.
3) The capacity of robotic milker was in proportion to the number of head to be milked.
4) Milking stall usage was in inverse proportion to milk yield.
5) A robotic milker contributes to reduced labor expenses and an increase in milk yield by increasing the number milkings per day. As a result, a farmer can recoup the investment in a robotic milker in about five years.
