MILKING SYSTEMS ▶▶▶
Robotic milkers: Where we are and where we’re going
The latest updates on features and capabilities in current models of robotic milkers as well as speculation on system designs of the future.
BY TREENA HEIN
The VMS V300 system by DeLaval pro- vides an ex- tremely high level of accuracy for attachment. It has also al- lowed a de- crease in use of labour.
B
ecause they are reliable, promote excellent cow care and allow farmers to do other farm or off-farm work instead of milking, it’s expected that use of robotic milkers will continue to grow on farms in the devel-
oped world in 2021 and beyond. According to a recent report by Fortune Business Insights, the market for robotic milking systems is expected to rise from USD $ 1.25 billion in 2019 to $ 2.94 billion by the end of 2027. In terms of robot type, the report finds that in 2019, mul- ti-stall models made up the majority of the global market
share, about 44%. Regionally, Europe has been the leading market due to increasing demand there for milk and milk products, strong overall investment in farming technology and high on-farm labour costs. The regions likely to see sig- nificant growth in uptake of robotic milkers are North Ameri- ca and Asia Pacific, particularly China and the US, “on account of rising average herd size and the adoption of technological upgradation”. The ability to milk larger herds robotically has been a focus for BouMatic’s designs in recent years, says Aaron Oughton, product manager for animal environment and refrigeration. “Today, more and more robots are used in larger farms, oper- ating a 24/7 operation in an open free-stall area,” he explains. Along with systems that are more suitable to larger herds, an- other design trend in recent years has been an increased level of remote control, for farmers but also for the technical teams at dealerships, explains Jason French, VMS Solution Manager at DeLaval. For example, the DeLaval VMS V300 milking sys- tem, launched in 2018 with “DeLaval InControl”, provides farmers with more remote system management options and speeds up the time it might take a troubleshooting team to resolve any issues. Reduced labour is yet another trend. The VMS V300, for exam- ple, has an extremely high attachment accuracy level and does not require “teaching” of teat positions at start-up and when introducing new cows. The new Robomax system from Milkomax also provides faster attachment than previous models.
Costs and comfort Milkomax has focused over the last few years on developing its robotic (tie-stall) systems to have reduced maintenance costs. Maintenance is reduced, explains Milkomax business relations coordinator Christian Rousseau, through a combina- tion of simpler design and greater reliability. The Robomax also provides energy savings thanks to the electric-only drives of the robotic arm. In addition, “much quieter opera- tion during milking,” says Rousseau, “results in improved animal comfort.”
24 ▶DAIRY GLOBAL | Volume 7, No. 5, 2020
PHOTO: DELAVAL
PHOTO: BOUMATIC
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