A simulation model to evaluate the performances of robotized milking parlours

A feasibility study was carried out to check the convenience of applying a simple robotic arm to common parlour layouts (tandem and rotary type). For this purpose a simulating computer program was developed to calculate the performance of various functional schemes of parlours. In this model, based on data taken from real observations of commercial systems, some input parameters can be varied and the effect on milking capacity evaluated. Among the outputs of the model, the number of milked cows per hour and the corresponding milk production are the most important considered. The work demonstrates not only the possibility of a convenient employment of the robotized systems in the traditional parlours, even under the restrictive limits of some typical productions, but also the decisive influence of the main technical aspects.