Comparison of Conventional and Automatic Milking Systems at Extreme Conditions by Thermographic Method

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impacts of teat traumatization on Holstein cows caused by two different types of milking systems (CMS – conventional milking system and AMS – an automatic milking system). The experiments were performed in two locations: at Žabčice School Farm of Mendel University in Brno and at ZEMAX, a. s. in Šitbořice. For the evaluation of the degree of traumatization, thermographic images depicting surface temperatures of teats were used. This paper tested the hypothesis that, at extreme conditions, the teat traumatization of Holstein cows does not depend on used milking system. The hypothesis was disproved by the performed monitoring. From statistical point of view, it was observed that there were significant differences depending on which milking system was used.

Keywords

• ams – automatic milking system
• cms – conventional milking system
• heat stress
• teat traumatization