Microsoft Word - Automatic Milking System_6098 B. O'Brien

al implications for stakeholders: Automatic milking systems (AMS)s can be operated successfully within a grass based milk production system and milk yields comparable to many commercial batch milking systems can be achieved when grazing management is managed in order to control cow traffic The fact that milk yield/cow/day was not significantly affected by reducing milking frequency from 1.8 to 1.4 times/day in mid lactation means that a larger cow herd size could potentially be associated with an automatic milking unit. Consequently a higher total milk output per unit could be achieved thus increasing profitability Concentrate supplementation in the latter stages of lactation resulted in increased milk yield and more frequent cow visits Such a scientific appraisal of an AMS provides information necessary for future decision making on the direction of milking organization on dairy farms in Ireland