Studies of performance parameters in milking robots after software improvement

Abstract

. Robotic milking of cows began in Latvia in 2007, when it was introduced on two farms, including the training and research farm “Vecauce” of the Latvia University of Biological Sciences and Technology (then the Latvia University of Agriculture). These were the DeLaval VMS robots that are still in use on the farm “Vecauce”. A similar study was carried out already in 2009, but since then DeLaval milking robots have undergone technical and software updates and improvements. Therefore, a comparison of the operation indicators of these robots with the latest model of the same company, VMS V300, was made. Research shows that performing all technical maintenance intended for the VMS robot and replacing the original management system software can ensure successful operation of this robot even after 16 years of use. However, it has difficulties with accurately attaching the milking tubes to the respective cow’s teats. Because of this, the application of tubes is delayed and the average milking time of one cow reaches 8.25 minutes. When milking with the company’s latest generation VMS V300 robot, which uses a 3D camera to connect the milking tubes, the average milking time is only 6.6 minutes. Therefore, we can assume that the robots used on the farm “Vecauce” for milking cows are morally and physically obsolete.