Lactating dairy cows adapt quickly to being milked by an automatic milking system

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Dairy Husbandry
• Animal Welfare

Background:

• Transitioning dairy cows to automatic milking systems (AMS) involves significant changes that may induce stress.
• Chronic stress can negatively impact cow welfare, while acute stress during milking can reduce milk yield.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the duration and extent of stress in dairy cows adapting to an AMS environment.
• To assess the impact of AMS transition on cow behavior and milk production.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-seven lactating dairy cows were observed during their transition from a conventional parlor to an AMS.
• Stress-related behaviors (step-kicking, elimination, vocalization) and milk yield were recorded for 24-hour periods on days 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 post-transition.
• Behavioral data were collected by trained observers, and milk yield was automatically recorded by the AMS.

Main Results:

• Instances of elimination and vocalization were significantly higher on day 0 compared to subsequent days, indicating initial stress.
• Milk yield was lower on day 0 but increased significantly by day 1.
• Primiparous cows exhibited more step-kick behaviors than multiparous cows during teat cup attachment.
• Over 60% of cows milked voluntarily by day 8, and 95% within a month, suggesting successful adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Dairy cows experience initial stress and discomfort when transitioning to an AMS, evident in increased elimination, vocalization, and reduced milk yield on the first day.
• Adaptation to the AMS occurs rapidly, with most behavioral and production indicators returning to normal levels within 24 hours.
• The high rate of voluntary milking suggests that AMS are not inherently aversive to cows once initial adaptation occurs.