Autonomous mobile robot scrapers are increasingly used in order to clean the floors on dairy farms. Given the complexity of robot scraper operation, stress may occur in cows due to unpredictability of the situation. Experiencing stress can impair animal welfare and, in the long term, the health and milk production of the cows. Therefore, this study addressed potential stress responses of dairy cattle to the robot scraper after introducing the autonomous mobile machine. Thirty-six cows in total were studied on three different farms to explore possible modifications in cardiac function, behavior, and adrenocortical activity. The research protocol on each farm consisted of four experimental periods including one baseline measurement without robot scraper operation followed by three test measurements, in which cows interacted with the robotic cleaning system. Interbeat intervals were recorded in order to calculate the heart rate variability (HRV) parameter RMSSD; behavior was observed to determine time budgets; and fecal samples were collected for analysis of the cortisol metabolites concentration. A statistical analysis was carried out using linear mixed-effects models. HRV decline immediately after the introduction of the robot scraper and modified behavior in the subsequent experimental periods indicated a stress response. The cortisol metabolites concentration remained constant. It is hypothesized that after the initial phase of decrease, HRV stabilized through the behavioral adjustments of the cows in the second part of the study. Persistent alterations in behavior gave rise to the assumption that the animals’ habituation process to the robot scraper was not yet completed. In summary, the present study illustrated that the cows showed minor signs of disturbance toward the robotic cleaning system. Thus, our findings suggest that dairy cattle can largely adjust their behavior to avoid aversive effects on animal welfare. Additional research can provide further insight into the development of the animal–machine interaction beyond the initial phase of robot scraper operation considered in this study.

The objective of the present study was to explore the impact of robotic walkway cleaning on clinical mastitis and the somatic cell count in lactating cows. Data collection was carried out on a large dairy farm for two six-month periods in 2012 and 2013. Walkway cleaning with five robot scrapers was performed only in 2013. The incidence of clinical mastitis was analysed using the chi-square test. A linear mixed-effects model was applied for the analysis of the somatic cell count. Results indicated that the proportion of incidences of clinical mastitis decreased between 2012 and 2013 by 2.42 percent points. On the other hand, the somatic cell count of the cows slightly rose between both investigation periods and thus increased the likelihood of intramammary infection. This contrary development between clinical mastitis and somatic cell count also occurred in previous studies in which it was attributed to a pathogen-specific effect owing to farm management. An investigation over a longer period can help to clarify the influence of robot scrapers on udder health in dairy cows.

Infectious hoof disorders are a serious challenge for dairy production since they cause pain and discomfort in cows and can compromise the competitiveness of dairy farming. Robot scrapers are capable of frequently removing liquid manure fro m slatted floors and can contribute to improved hygiene of walkways. The aim of this study was to observe the imp licat ions of the robotic cleaning of walking areas for infectious hoof disorders in dairy cattle. A large herd ranging fro m 1,247 to 1,328 Holstein Friesian co ws was monitored in two six-month periods in 2012 and in 2013. A ll animals were housed in a cubicle housing system with slatted floors in wh ich walkways were cleaned using robot scrapers in 2013 but not in 2012. Statistical analysis was carried out with either the Chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test in R. Results indicated that the presence of infectious hoof disorders declined after robot scrapers were used for the cleaning of walkways. While in the first investigation period 648 animals suffered from infectious hoof diseases, in the second period only 340 animals were affected. This study stresses the significance of environmental hygiene to improve hoof health in dairy cattle.