Use of a robotic milking system by cows of different genotypes reared in a silvopastoral system.

The robotic milking system (RMS) is unique in its ability to operate without human intervention. It allows cows to choose when and how often to be milked during the day, benefiting animal health and welfare. However, specific technical indicators for RMS incorporated into pasture-based production systems are still being established. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the feasibility of integrating robotic milking in a silvopastoral dairy production system with cows of different breeds. The experiment was carried out at Embrapa Pecudria Sudeste, São Carlos, Brazil (22°01'S, 47°53'W, 860m), for 92 days. Sixty-six lactating cows of Holstein (HO, n=21), HJ crossbred (1/2 Holstein x 1/2 Jersey; HJ, n=24), and HX crossbred (>3/4 Jersey on Holstein base; HX, n=21) breeds were observed. Cows were intensively grazed in a silvopastoral system with voluntary and unrestricted access to the RMS. Data from 9,305 milkings were analyzed (ANOVA; RStudio; a=5%). HO and HJ cows had a higher daily milk yield than HX cows (P<0.05). The HO and HJ cows had a longer daily milking time (P<0.05), which was attributed to the higher daily production per animal. There was no significant difference in milking frequency between the genotypes (P>0.05). Daily milk yield, daily milking time, and milking frequency were positively and significantly correlated (P<0.0001). The results indicate that cows with higher milk yields have spent more time in the milking box. Furthermore, no evidence suggests that more productive cows visit the milking robot more frequently in a pasture-based system.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: GARCIA, A. R., PINHO, L. F., ALVES, T. C., ZAFALON, L. F., PEREIRA, V. S. do A., CASTIILHO, E. F., NANNI COSTA, L., RAMOS, G. G., AZEVEDO, G. N., ZANETTI, L. K., GRUDZINSKI, C. E., MORAES, M. J.
Other Authors: ALEXANDRE ROSSETTO GARCIA, CPPSE; UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO PARÁ; TERESA CRISTINA ALVES, CPPSE; LUIZ FRANCISCO ZAFALON, CPPSE; VERONICA SCHINAIDER DO A PEREIRA, CNPGL; UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL RURAL DA AMAZÔNIA; UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA; UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO; CENTRO UNIVERSITDRIO CENTRAL PAULISTA; UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO; UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO PARÁ.
Format: Artigo em anais e proceedings biblioteca
Language:eng
Published: 2025-01-06
Subjects:Sistema silvipastoril, Pecuária de precisão, Produção Leiteira, Vaca Leiteira, Ordenha, Bem-Estar,
Online Access:http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1171176
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Summary:The robotic milking system (RMS) is unique in its ability to operate without human intervention. It allows cows to choose when and how often to be milked during the day, benefiting animal health and welfare. However, specific technical indicators for RMS incorporated into pasture-based production systems are still being established. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the feasibility of integrating robotic milking in a silvopastoral dairy production system with cows of different breeds. The experiment was carried out at Embrapa Pecudria Sudeste, São Carlos, Brazil (22°01'S, 47°53'W, 860m), for 92 days. Sixty-six lactating cows of Holstein (HO, n=21), HJ crossbred (1/2 Holstein x 1/2 Jersey; HJ, n=24), and HX crossbred (>3/4 Jersey on Holstein base; HX, n=21) breeds were observed. Cows were intensively grazed in a silvopastoral system with voluntary and unrestricted access to the RMS. Data from 9,305 milkings were analyzed (ANOVA; RStudio; a=5%). HO and HJ cows had a higher daily milk yield than HX cows (P<0.05). The HO and HJ cows had a longer daily milking time (P<0.05), which was attributed to the higher daily production per animal. There was no significant difference in milking frequency between the genotypes (P>0.05). Daily milk yield, daily milking time, and milking frequency were positively and significantly correlated (P<0.0001). The results indicate that cows with higher milk yields have spent more time in the milking box. Furthermore, no evidence suggests that more productive cows visit the milking robot more frequently in a pasture-based system.