System performance on commercial pasture based automatic milking farms m

In order to evaluate the automatic milking system (AMS) in the context of an Irish grass based milk production system, it is important to understand system performance and potential of the commercial scenario with regard to the system output and an assessment of the operational management of the system on a day-to-day basis. A group of seventeen Irish AMS farmers was recruited and they agreed to share their AMS data; data was monitored on a monthly basis during January to December 2022. Individual farms were visited at which information was gathered on grazing management strategies. Key milk production and robot performance data are presented across the months May to September, representing the main lactation period in seasonal calving systems. A wide range in management and milking performance was observed across farms. Seven of the seventeen farms had > 1 robot and while the average number of cows/robot was 59, this ranged from 39-74. Although farmers described themselves as spring calving, the spread in calving dates suggested some variation (days in milk ranged from 7 to 174 across herds and farms). Average milkings/robot/day and milkings/cow/day (in mid-May; month of peak milk production) were 129 (97-157) and 2.22 (1.91-2.81), respectively. Minimum (3.3 kg/cow/day) and maximum 6.4 kg/cow/day) meals fed on farms (average 4.9) was reflected in minimum (24.9 kg/cow/day) and maximum (32.1 kg/cow/day) milk yields (average 27.2) recorded on those farms. This study provides new knowledge on milk production and milking robot performance of pasture based AMS, thus allowing farmers to understand the potential of the system, and highlighting ways for greater efficiency.