Automatic Milking....?!?

A brief history of automatic milking:

"
o First Patents in Early '70s
o First Prototypes 1984 - 1986
o First implemented in Europe in 1992
o 2002: Over 1000 'robotic farms' in 18 countries, including 7 in the USA

"

What exactly is involved with automatic milking systems?

o Milking Stall
o Teat detection system
o Robotic arm for attaching teat cups
o Control Mechanisms including sensors and software
o Milking machine (including cleaning)

"Automatic Milking System" is a machine that allows a farmer to more freedom concerning cattle. It used to be that a farmer would have to keep to a rigorous schedule and perform the laborious activity of milking cows. Automatic Milking Systems free the farmer from being so entrenched in the milking process, reducing him to a more managerial role.
The first patents for Automatic Milking Systems appeared in the 1970's. The first prototypes were completed between 1984 and 1986, and were first applied to a commercial farm in England in 1992. Some farmers were dissatisfied with the process, citing concerns in technical problems, economic issues, and milk quality. Nevertheless, by 2002 more than 1000 Automatic Milking Systems were in use, including seven in the United States of America.
However, Automatic Milking Systems tend to be used more in areas without open pastures for grazing. In the Netherlands, for example, land is precious and valuable, so cows are guided through a maze-like barn. Often, the "milking station" will be positioned in the door way to the feeding, in order to lure the cow to get milked. The sensors in the unit detect where the utters are and a robotic arm moves suction cup-like pumps to the teats. Sensors indicate whether or not the cow is due to be milked. If the cow is due to be pumped it is, if not, it is guided away from the machine. Open grazing pastures are detrimental for the milking machine due to the fact that it is harder to lure the cows with food, as well as studies show that cows will not go to the machine if it is too far away.
There are many catalysts and corrosions in the area of automatic milking. There are concerns with the lack of contact between the farmer and the animal--making it harder for problems to be detected by the farmer. The Somatic Cell Count (SCC) is usually lower in machine-extracted milk, probably due to increased milking (as opposed to two milking sessions per day) but is a concern for milk quality. Having cows cooped up is not good, either, because it increases the amount of excrement around the cows, which is a health hazard for the cows. The initial cost of implementing the system is also an issue.
The biggest advantage, of course, to automatic milking is freeing up the farmer. Milking cows is a tedious and laborious task, and the machine allows the farmer to attend to other animals or crops, and reduces the stress on the farmer. Output is generally increased, allowing for more efficient and plentiful product. The software constantly monitors cows in the herd, so subtle shifts in response to changes in the feed or condition of the cattle can be more easily documented and compounded more often. Because the milking is "elective", it is believed to reduce the stress on cows that having a standard milking time produces.