Diverse ways to combine grazing and automatic milking systems

作者：Brocard V^*; Lessire F; Cloet E; Huneau T; Dufrasne I; Depres C

来源：Fourrages, 2017, (229): 17-24.

• Animal well-being
• cattle
• dairying
• diet
• feed suplementation
• field pattern
• forage
• grassland
• grazing
• grazing management
• herd management
• intake
• work

In 2015, nearly 4,800 automatic milking (AM) systems could be found across dairy farms in France. As part of the European project Autograssmilk, different approaches for combining grazing and AM were tested, with a view to maximising milk production and reducing feed costs. A wide range of production contexts were examined, from intensive grazing systems with low feed costs to more industrial systems focused on increasing animal productivity. We found that the successful combination of grazing and AM was rooted in some key factors, notably feed rationing (including necessary adaptations to grass availability), cow traffic systems, and barn-to-paddock distance potential use of mobile AM units). Dairy cows displayed the ability to adjust to different conditions.

• 出版日期2017-3