Cattle, sheep and goat milking plants at various levels of automation
An efficient milking system is essential on all dairy farms, from the smallest and simplest to the largest and most automated. The most suitable technological solution is available for each
On dairy farms, milking facilities must be carefully selected according to herd size, available space and workforce, and likely future evolutions in terms of technological innovation. While the milking parlor for cows has been studied and optimized down to the smallest detail for sheep and goats, the margins for improvement are still wide. Dairy cattle herds are usually medium to large, with a rather considerable number of lactating animals; genetic selection has also led to a rather homogeneous udder conformation. Conversely, sheep and goat farms have developed "extensively," although, especially for goats, technologically advanced milking systems are becoming more widespread. Therefore, for sheep and goats, genetic selection has not been particularly careful, so it is currently difficult to find uniform udder conformation such that milking systems with high automation are possible. Besides that, it should be taken into account that, obviously, cattle need 4-teat clusters, while in sheep and goats, they are half that number.
Mobile milking systems. These are based on mobile platforms, which are suitable for herds where animals (especially sheep and goats) are spread over several locations, or where there is no possibility of installing a milking parlor, or even for grazing or extensive-type farms. The equipment is based on a tractor-drawn wagon, on which there are usually 12 or 24 milking stations arranged in one or two rows. The animals are entered from the side, while the exit is generally from the front. Animals enter and exit by passing on a pneumatically operated platform. There is also a manger (made of stainless steel for easier and more effective cleaning), to which a galvanized sheet metal structure cover is added to operate in harsh weather conditions.
Post-milking washing is automatic with hot water, and an artificial lighting system is also installed to work in dark conditions.
Standard milking parlors. For medium-to-large size herds and intensive livestock housing facilities, milking parlors for sheep and goats can be linear comb or, carousel type, or even herringbone type, as is the case in cattle farming. Parallel parlors range from 6-8 placed in a single row for smaller parlors up to 30-70 placed in a double row for larger ones. Following an obligatory path, the cows reach the stations where they are held by a front or side self-capture system, from which they then exit at the end of milking quickly and simultaneously. Milking times are shortened thanks to this solution, which ensures good ease of access and exit of the animals, with excellent milking homogeneity. As with all solutions dedicated to sheep and goats, it is necessary to provide a stainless-steel trough with an automatic feeder and a pneumatically operated mechanism for self-capture. Sensors implement more advanced models to measure milking performance, such as Milkline's Milpro SG.
Furthermore, there must be sufficient space for animal handling, with a transit lane at least 0.6-0.7 m wide. The basic parameters monitored by the electronic milking control units include the amount of milk taken, pulsation adjustment (for the benefit of udder health), and activation of an alarm in case the cluster falls while milking is in progress. In addition, a link with management software is usually implemented to record the information collected automatically.
Rotary milking parlor. Rotary milking is a high-performance alternative for very large herds, where a large number of animals must be milked in a short time. The rotary milking parlor for sheep and goats is similar to the one for cattle, either internal or external milking, for 30-120 animals. In each case, devices are installed to facilitate the work of the operators while preserving the animals' welfare. For example, in GEA's Rotary parlor AR internal and AR external, animals enter through a guided passageway, reaching the feed troughs. The sheepgoat then sticks its head into the trough, at which point a latch is automatically activated, holding the animal in place for the entire milking time. This solution makes the operation easier and, at the same time, reduces the animal's stress. Conversely, in cattle rotary milking parlors, feeders are not necessary, and animals are locked directly in the stall, with a gate system that opens automatically at the end of milking. Rotary milking parlors can also be easily implemented with electronic devices to monitor milk production, as well as to define the correct pulsation frequency and the correct milking cluster detachment time.
Milking robots. At the highest level of automation lies the milking robot (also referred to as AMS, Automatic Milking System), which was introduced only on cattle farms at the time. In more than 30 years of technical refinement, milking robots have improved greatly, particularly in efficiency and reliability. Their spread in Italy, starting in the 1990s, was initially limited by more traditional farming practices, but more recently, there has been a significant increase, so today, about 5 percent of dairy farms are equipped with at least one milking robot. The automatic milking routine is complex but, at the same time, intuitive: the animal enters a stall equipped with an entry and exit gate, supplemented, if appropriate, with a feeder for feeding during milking. The system includes a number of sensors for animal recognition, a robotic arm with optical devices to locate and attach the group to quarters, and management software for data collection of the individual animal. More specifically, animal recognition, which is done through RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) installed on pedometers or collars, is used to optimize milking cluster attachment, also making use of sophisticated sensing and positioning solutions, such as 3D cameras, ultrasonic sensors and laser tracking devices. Concentrated pelleted feed is then released to incentivize the animal to stay in the stall and return to it. If a particular animal has recently been milked, the procedure does not begin, and the gate is opened for it to leave the box. First, to ensure an appropriate level of hygiene, all parts are automatically washed with hot water. Rather than providing for only one (or a few) milking robots, the possibility of installing a considerable number of them is becoming popular to make milking at set times possible. This solution, also known as "batch milking", ensures adherence to a set routine of animal activity (i.e., alternating milking and rest periods) while retaining all the advantages of automation without human intervention. Furthermore, in this way, energy and water consumption are optimized, and milking parameters can be easily controlled for each animal, making the implementation of precision animal husbandry feasible.
The vacuum pump
Regardless of the size and level of technological advancement, the vacuum pump is a key component of the milking establishment, aimed at ensuring proper stability of the operation, both as pulse frequency and stimulation and cluster operation. Vacuum pumps are driven either directly by the power-supplying device or by means of a belt drive, which has a trapezoidal cross-section. Direct drive is characterized by smoother operation, lower noise and lower lubricating oil consumption. They also require less maintenance.
