Dairy farmers today have to keep on evaluating new techniques, if they want to optimise their operations to remain profitable, cut costs as well as increase their per herd productivity, Jochen Dohring, Lely Group spokesperson said.

In an interview with The Dairy Mail in Berlin during the International Green Week recently, Dohring said in an effort to make sure that dairy farmers produce good quality products, on reduced costs and management, his company launched the Astronaut 3 robotic milking system in November 2005, which is meant to enhance productivity, reduce the overall operating costs and at the same time giving the modern day dairy farmer the necessary management tools to increase the profitability of his herd through proper herd management.

“This machine was designed with the needs and wants of the farmer and the individual cow in mind”, he said, adding: “A cow can make its own decisions on when to be milked, going outside for grazing eating or lying down. It will visit the robot on its own free will as often as she likes resulting in yield increases of up to 20%”.

The system comprises all of the necessary equipment, vacuum system, milking system, cleaning as well as electronics. The milk quality control system within the machine ensures optimum control of udder health and milk quality by means of colour and conductivity measuring.

“The dairy farmer can profit from this robot with improved output, enhanced user friendliness, revolutionary milking technique as well as reduced and more flexible maintenance costs.

“Cows can enjoy being milked in an outstandingly animal friendly system with enhanced comfort. It will have optimal space and can move freely, not in any way being fixed by brackets or any other encumbering parts,” Dohring said.
Sensors fitted in the floor determine the animal’s position in the box.
The unit is a stand alone construction which needs connection to water power, compressed air, feed augers and a milk line to vat.

Its main components are cow cubicle with entry and exit gate, feed bin with three feed type inputs, variable speed vacuum pump, pulsation unit, quality control measurement device, milk jar with litre measure float, milk pump and filter sock housing, hot water service and cleaning chemical pumps, robot arm with four teat cups, control electronics and display key pads.

The Astronaut is a machine that offers substantial financial and lifestyle advantage to dairy farmers. The machine also liberates farmers from labour intensive milking as well as increased milk production.

“With the help of the Astronaut robotic milking system one person can milk 1,2 million litres of milk per year. This saves money on the part of the farmer through reduced labour costs. It will allow farmers to spend more quality time with their cows, more time to make top quality silage,” Dohring said.
He said the machine is maintenance friendly and cow friendly and is totally poised for the future.

For more information contact:
Jochen Döhring
Lely Deutschland M.R.S. GmbH
Hauptstraße 34
D-29643 Neuenkirchen
Tel.-DW: +49 (0) 5195 / 9605-10
Mobil: +49 (0) 172 / 4397840
eMail: jdoehring@lely.com