This week's post concerns a technology which has been around for a while in the dairy industry, but continues to improve. The technology in question is that of milking robots. For those who don't know, a milking robot works by using lasers to locate the teats. A robotic arm then attaches the milking machine to the udder, and the cow is milked as usual. An electronic scale built into the robot tracks how much milk is entering the machine. When flow tails off, the vacuum pressure switches off and the machine is withdrawn. The robot then sprays a post-dip antibacterial solution on the teats to prevent infections. The machine records yield records and other data, and saves these on the farmer's computer. You may be asking, how does the machine get to the cow to milk it? The answer: It doesn't, the cow comes to the machine! The robot dispenses grain to entice cows to enter the machine for milking. An RFID pendant around the cow's neck prevents cows from constantly re-entering in order to receive more grain. Robotic milking would seem to be the trend for the future of the dairy industry but for one fact. The robots are very expensive. They cost thousands of dollars, but may be worth it in the long run. All in all, it is an interesting technology whose worth varies from farm to farm.
Until next time...
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