ICAR Technical Series no. 7 - Nitra Proc.

Halachmi et al.Designing the optimal roboticmilking barnI. Halachmi 1 , J.H.M Metz 2-3 ,A.A. Dijkhuizen 3 & L. Speelman 31Agricultural Engineering Institution, The Volcani Centre, A.R.O.,P.O.Box 50250 Bet-Dagan, IsraelE-mail: halachmi@volcani.agri.gov.il2Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (IMAG),Wageningen, Netherlands3Department of Agricultural Engineering and Physics,Wageningen University, NetherlandsThe PhD project was intended to make a three-way contribution:1) To the development of a science-based methodology for designing thelayout of the robotic milking barn (RMB), taking into account the manyfactors that directly influence the layout design, such as existing physicallayout of the barn, cow behaviour, management practices, potentialcapacity and actual utilisation, and feeding routine.2) To translate the methodology into a practical design tool, embedded ina user-friendly software application, ready for use in the farmer’s homeduring a consultation;3) To set up examples that demonstrate the proposed methodology, showa way through the complexity of finding an optimal solution, andindicate how a solution may be generalized to other cases. This PhDstudy has been completed and published by IMAG and WageningenUniversity; no further research on the same issue is necessary - the onusis now on the industry to implement this proposed design methodologyon a daily basis.SummaryNowadays, the number of dairy farms has decreased while the remainingfarms have grown in size and have modernized, often by purchasing amilking robot. These robots affect farm labor, cow productivity, animalwelfare, feeding routines, building construction and management practices.All these aspects need to be taken into consideration when designing thelayout of a robotic milking barn (RMB).IntroductionICAR Technical Series - No 7151