Check Out Dairy Robotic Upgrades

Both models to be exhibited at New York Farm Show this week.

John Vogel

Published: Feb 22, 2010

Today’s milkers – the robotic ones – are getting smarter. Upgraded models of the voluntary milking systems from DeLaval and Lely will be on display at the New York Farm Show in Syracuse on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They’ll be on display at the State Fairgrounds Horticultural Building.

Here’s a quick overview of the 2010 improvements:

DeLaval’s improved arm

The VMS 2010 adds more agility, gentleness and flexibility to its hydraulic arm, allowing more cows to be milked, says DeLaval Vice President Andrew Turner.

It also integrates an optional steam back flush system option to reduce contamination risks. The 2010 comes with 3 extra liner alternatives, allowing producers to select one that’s best cows.

The touch screen’s user-friendliness is accelerated, allowing for automatic adjustment of milking permissions based on time, expected yield, lactation number and days in milk. An optical milk meter measures conductivity, milk flow, yield and blood levels in each quarter. The system automatically diverts abnormal milk according to the criteria that farmers set in the software.

An optional online cell counter provides an accurate somatic cell count for each animal at every milking. “The OCC is the first true automatic somatic cell counter available for voluntary milking systems,” adds Turner. “With our OCC, acute mastitis cases can be precisely identified and closely followed on sub-clinical cases.

The VMS 2010 consumes between 15 and 25 kW per ton of milk. Each unit is capable of harvesting 4,410 to 5,510 pounds of milk per day. For more details, go to www.topmilker.com .

Lely’s Next model

The 2010 Lely Astronaut A3 has been dubbed the A3 Next. Its redesign puts the milk quality sensor in the robotic arm, reduces energy and water use, and improves the software-driven feeding system.

“The A3 Next consumes significantly less energy and water than competitive brands,” claims Lely USA’s President Peter Langebeeke. Cleaning and servicing will be easier. By using the most sustainable materials available, he adds that Lely offers the longest lifespan and higher trade-in value than other systems.

The A3 Next’s arm-mounted milk quality sensor system speeds detection and improves per-quarter somatic cell count measurements. The model’s milk separation system is now disengaged from the robotic milking system, and can be mounted on the most convenient place for the farmer.

Its T4C (Time 4 Cows) management system has been updated to take into account the individual animal’s response (in terms of milk production) to the concentrate provided or milk intervals. It holds potential to increase individual cow health will increase, reduce concentrate costs and optimize robot use.

Lely’s A3 Next is compatible with existing A3 models. For more details, visit the Web site: www.lely.com/en/dairyequipment/milkingequipment/astronauta3.jsp .