Grazing with a mobile milking robot

The size of dairy cow herds in Europe is increasing. Farmers have to manage larger herds but want, at the same time, benefit from a normal social life. So, the milking robot can bring solutions. Its use can reduce physical labour and allow flexibility. During the past 10 years, the number of milking robots has been increased in Europe. In farm practice, this technology has resulted in a reduction in the amount of grazing even though grazing appears as a natural practice which is appreciated by the consumers. At the experimental farm of the University of Liège, we are developing the concept of a mobile milking robot in collaboration with a private company. This prototype will allow cows to graze and could be moved to different locations on pastures during the grazing season. The prototype will be used indoors during the end of the winter season and will be moved outdoor during the 2010 grazing season. The feasibility of this prototype has to be tested in the field. Milk production and quality, the number of visits and the grazing parameters will be recorded. Different equipments in view to attract the cows to the robot as the presence of a cow brush, the location of the drinking point, will be compared. The behaviour of animals will be also assessed.