@conference {41513,
	title = {Remote automatic selection of cows for milking in a pasture-based automatic milking system},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {64},
	year = {2004},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {241-245},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Hamilton},
	abstract = {New Zealand pastoral dairy farming presents unique challenges for combining automatic milking systems (AMS), including long walking distances, large herds, year round pasturing and a predominately fresh pasture diet. This paper describes a system designed to minimise walking, maximise the efficiency of AMS utilisation and enable control of individual cow milking frequency by remotely selecting cows for milking up to 400 m from the dairy. Cows report to a selection unit (SU) located in the centre of a block of pasture and linked via raceways to the AMS. Entry is via one-way gates and exit via a computer controlled drafting gate, which directs the cow either to the dairy or the paddock depending on time since last milking. A communication cable connects the SU to the AMS server in the dairy. Cows wear an electronic identification device. Water and pasture access act as incentives for cows to enter the SU. Cows readily learned to use the SU and were observed visiting the unit at every hour over 24 hours. Twenty-seven cows were assigned to either a 6h or 12h minimum milking interval (MMI). On average, cows visited the SU 4.5 and 5.5 times/d for the 6h MMI and 12h MMI groups, respectively, and achieved a milking frequency of 1.9 and 1.4 milkings/d, respectively. Results showed that milking frequency can be controlled via a system for remotely selecting cows for milking and that access to fresh pasture is a strong factor in motivating cow traffic through the SU. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Jago J and Bright K and Copeman P and Davis K and Jackson A and Ohnstad I and Wieliczko R and Woolford M}
}
@conference {41419,
	title = {Dominance effects on the time budget and milking behaviour of cows managed on pasture and milked in an automated milking system},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {63},
	year = {2003},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {120-123},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Queenstown},
	abstract = {The influence of social hierarchy on the behaviour of a herd of 41 cows milked in an automated milking system (AMS) was studied under conditions of free or no access to water at pasture. In phase 1 (P1) water was available within a central collection area (CCA) in the centre of the farm from which return to pasture was via the AMS. In phase 2 (P2), water was available at pasture in addition to the CCA. The time budget for activity (grazing, standing, lying or walking) and location (paddock, CCA entrance race, exit race or waiting yard) was determined over 2x24h in each of P1 \& P2. Dominance values (DV) were calculated and cows classified as high, middle or low ranking. In P1 \& P2, DV was positively related to the number of milking visits to the AMS. In P1, 83.4\% of all drinking occurred in the CCA compared with 14.2\% in P2. Social rank had no effect on time budget in P1, however, in P2, DV influenced waiting times with lower ranking cows spending a greater proportion of time waiting before entering the AMS. The results show that social rank affects the number of visits to the AMS and yard waiting times but has little effect on the activity time budget of cows milked in a AMS. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Jago J and Jackson A and Woolford M}
}
@conference {41328,
	title = {An innovative farm system combining automated milking with grazing},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {62},
	year = {2002},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {115-119},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Palmerston North},
	abstract = {The harvesting of raw milk for the New Zealand dairy industry is a labour intensive process. Technology to completely automate the milk-harvesting process has been developed in Europe and is operating on an increasing number of commercial farms in several countries. A research programme has been established at Dexcel to develop innovative pasture-based farm systems utilising existing automated milking technology. A new farm layout was designed and implemented on a 10 ha farmlet. The land was radially subdivided into eight paddocks leading to a central collection area. A 200-m two-way race extended between the collection area and a small waiting yard adjoining a Fullwood Merlin automated milking system (AMS). Water was only available in the central collection area, the holding yard and as cows exited the AMS. Cows had access to the AMS for 24h/day where they received a maximum of 2kg concentrate/ 24h. A herd of 41 mixed-age cows was milked in the farm system. Data for a 14-day period in October when cows had settled into the system were analysed. Cows voluntarily visited the AMS 2.7 times/24h and were milked 2.3 times/24h. Visits were distributed over 24h with the lowest number of visits occurring between 0330 and 0600. Cows demonstrated remarkable adaptability in a distributed AMS and there appears to be considerable potential for AMS within New Zealand{\textquoteright}s pasture-based farming system.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Jago J and Copeman P and Bright K and McLean D and Ohnstad I and Woolford M}
}
