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26 THE RURAL VOICE
land prices in Oxford County may
make Huron County attractive to
some European buyers wanting to
start up large operations in Ontario.
More common, however, will be
smaller barns and additions to barns
as producers with 40 to 60 cows try
to expand to 100, and move to a free -
stall system to lighten the work load.
omm agrees that the 60-100
cow herd will be the action is
this year.
"Everybody would like a new
barn," he says, but many people
settle for putting an addition on their
current barn when they can afford it.
The biggest news in dairy this
year will be inside the barn. House
reveals there are plans for the
installation of three or four milking
robots in western Ontario (from Ayr
through to Exeter) before summer.
Robots have been in use in Europe
but this will be the first successful
foray into Ontario. The University of
Guelph had tested a machine with
limited success but the sudden flurry
of installations seems to signal that
companies are committing to service
the machines and build the market
here in Ontario, House says.
Rick Richardson of Norwell Dairy
Systems in Drayton, which markets
the AMS Liberty says the robotic
milking system gives the farmer the
flexibility to milk 24 hours a day
without operator assistance.
The system works on the principle
of the cows' need to cycle through
the barn for feed, rest and milking.
The equipment is programmed to
meet the milk needs of the specific
cow related to her production and
stage of lactation.
When the system recognizes it is
time for milking, the cow is directed
into the milking centre and the stall is
adjusted for her length, said
Richardson.
The robot, which is able to milk
four stalls at one time, picks up the
milk cluster and attaches the cups -to
the udder using an ultrasonic sensor.
Once attached, the teats are
washed prior to milking. The wash
water and foremilk are dumped into
the drain and the milk enters a
receiver after the yield and
conductivity are recorded. These
figures are recorded by the computer
to monitor milk quality and
production.