A New Dairy Control and Management System in the Automatic Milking Farm: Basic Concepts and Components

Abstract The introduction of automatic milking technology, including on-line individual data acquisition and processing, requires adaptation of dairy management methods. Automatic milking systems allow the individual cow to be milked and fed according to her production performance and potential to achieve maximal profits with minimal resources. Because the farmer is not actually present each time a milking or feeding decision is needed, a new generation of control and management systems has been designed to assume the short-term dairy management and operational control. The overall management control still remains with the farmer or herdsperson, who is supported by the dairy control and management system. The paper discusses the influence on dairy management of the integration of the individual automatic milking and feeding systems. Then, the concept of a dairy control and management system, which includes a decision support and expert system, is described. A prototype, which enables automatic milking and feeding routines, was developed and tested.

[1]  Reiner Doluschitz.  Expert systems for management in dairy operations , 1990 .

[2]  R.B.M. Huirne.  Basic concepts of computerised support for farm management decisions , 1990 .

[3]  A. D. Whittaker,et al.  Dairy herd nutritional analysis using knowledge systems techniques , 1988 .

[4]  P. Martin,et al.  6 – THE INFLUENCE OF NUTRIENT BALANCE ON MILK YIELD AND COMPOSITION , 1988 .

[5]  A. J. Heinrichs.  Evaluating dairy herd management and ration formulation microcomputer software in the United States , 1989 .

[6]  Luther H. Keller,et al.  Farm Management: Planning, Control and Implementation , 1981 .

[7]  R. Harmon,et al.  Milking frequency as related to udder health and milk production. , 1983, Journal of dairy science.

[8]  S L Spahr,et al.  Comparative responses of lactating cows to total mixed rations or computerized individual concentrates feeding. , 1992, Journal of dairy science.

[9]  Timing of visits to the concentrates feeding station by dairy cows , 1991 .

[10]  A. H. Ipema,et al.  The feasibility of milking in a feeding box , 1985 .

[11]  Vasant Dhar,et al.  OF EXPERT SYSTEMS IN MANAGEMENT , 1987 .

[12]  Frank H. Baker,et al.  Dairy Science Handbook , 1984 .

[13]  M. A. Varner,et al.  An expert diagnostic aid for reproductive problems in dairy cattle , 1987 .

[14]  A. C. Bywater.  Development of Integrated Management Information System for Dairy Producers , 1981 .

[15]  J. Hillerton,et al.  Short-term effects of frequent milking of dairy cows , 1989, Journal of Dairy Research.

[16]  W. Rossing.  Prospects for automatic milking: Proceedings of the international symposium ‘prospects for automatic milking’. Edited by A.H. Ipema, A.C. Lippus, J.H.M. Metz and W. Rossing. EAAP Publication 65, Pudoc Scientific Publishers, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 1992. 575 pp., US$234. ISBN 90-220-1076-7 , 1994 .

[17]  Henk Hogeveen,et al.  Development of an integrated Knowledge-Based System for Management Support on Dairy Farms , 1991 .

[18]  David J. Parsons.  An initial economic assessment of fully automatic milking of dairy cows , 1988 .

[19]  A. Dijkhuizen,et al.  Economic aspects of reproductive failure in dairy cattle II. The decision to replace animals , 1985 .

[20]  William F. Lazarus,et al.  Management Information Systems: Impact on Dairy Farm Profitability , 1990 .

[21]  H. K. Wierenga,et al.  Behaviour of dairy cows when fed concentrates with an automatic feeding system , 1991 .