How robot milking by vacuum innovation can improve output

Stable and regulated vacuum for milking equipment is of essential importance to support udder health and yield potential across dairy farm operations.

In robotic milking systems, it’s common for the vacuum at the teat end to dip when milk flow is at its highest.

This prolonging the milking time even with the same yield potential, therefore impacting the overall efficiency of herd and contributing to the limit of capacity of cows per robot.

© Delaval

Flow-Responsive™ Milking for DeLaval VMS robots is now addressing time efficiency and capacity challenges for robotic milking systems directly.

© Delaval

The importance of milking vacuum

Vacuum can contribute to the consistency of milk flow for individual quarters as well as the overall milking time.

Therefore, impacting the average frequency of milkings per cow and as a result, the total daily production per robot.

Udder health and comfort especially at quarter level can also be supported by regulated vacuum through helping prevent teat end damage and reduce mastitis risk.

Overall, how robotic systems are able to use, monitor and stabilise vacuum is essential to the performance and quality in outputs of the whole milking operation. 

© Delaval

Flow Responsive Milking

Flow-Responsive™ Milking automatically maintains a steady vacuum at the teat end while handling the variation in milk flow from each individual quarter.

This results in faster milking times, and less cup-on time meaning a faster, gentler and more complete experience for cows, and a higher potential per robot.

20-40 sec faster per milking

Flow-Responsive™ Milking results in shorter milking times, which in turn allows for more cows to be milked per VMS™ station per day.

Conversely, less time spent milking results in more idle time per station, allowing for an increase in time available for service and maintenance.

Up to 50% fewer kick-offs

Cows are more comfortable and relaxed during Flow-Responsive™ Milkings and could benefit from better udder health because of the gentler, more natural variable vacuum and shorter cluster on-time.

In addition, they spend less time in the waiting area and more time resting and feeding.