In the environment of farms and farm buildings, cattle are exposed to various unnatural influences. Such an impact is also noise always arising with a certain energy conversion. In cattle farms, the sources of noise are represented by various mechanical equipment and machines that are used for enabling farm operations. The aim of the paper was to analyse the noise levels in dairy cattle production in the environment, during their day routine. Noise levels were measured at two farms with a different technological layout of milking parlour, with a different way of milking. The noise exposure of dairy cows was measured in three locations, namely in the milking parlour, during standing in the area before milking (in the so-called collection room) and directly in the stabling area. Noise exposure was measured during milking and when the milking parlour was turned off. The values were compared with the hearing sensitivity of cattle at selected frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 kHz).

Keywords: Mixer feeder wagon, total mixed ration, fodder

Abstract. The aim of this article is to evaluate the noise levels of different milking systems. Noise was measured at 15 dairy farms in Slovakia, Finland, and the Czech Republic. Out of these, there were three herringbone, three tandem, three side-by-side, and three rotary milking parlors, and three automatic milking systems (AMS). Brüel&Kjær type 2270 sound analyser was used for measuring noise levels. Equivalent sound pressure level (LAeq), maximum sound pressure level (LAFmax), and peak values (LCPk) have been recorded in each milking system during the entire herd milking session. Keywords: Animal welfare, Dairy cows, Milking device, Noise exposure.

Mechanical devices in parlours are a source of noise, and this noise has an effect not only on the operators of the parlour but also on dairy cows. They have more sensitive hearing than humans. The aim of this article was to analyse the sound pressure level and determine the noise exposure of dairy cows at different technological solutions of milking parlours, during their day routine. In the experiment, tandem, herringbone and rotary milking parlours were used. Noise exposure was measured during the milking process. After evaluation of noise pressure levels of different types of milking parlours, it can be concluded that in this experiment, the equivalent noise pressure level was lowest in the tandem milking parlour. Equivalent sound pressure levels in the rotary and herringbone milking parlour were almost about the same values. These values are higher than values in the tandem milking parlour, about 10 decibels. The differences within mean LAFeq values between the herringbone milking parlour and tandem milking parlour were highly statistically significant (P <0.001***).