Comparison of Parameters of Automatic Milking in Selected Countries in European Union and United States

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare selected parameters of automatic milking in various European Union countries and United States recorded between 2018 and 2020. Statistical analysis showed highly significant effect of country on all tested milking parameters. It was noted that i.e. the average number of cows per one robot, depending on country, ranged between 51.49 (the Netherlands) and 60.03 (Germany). Cows were milked on the average 2.50 (France) -2.83 (Latvia) per day, with milking speed ranging from 2.30 kg/min (Lithuania) to 2.99 kg/min (US). Daily milk yield obtained from one cow ranged from 25.12 kg (Lithuania) to 34.11 kg (US), while milk efficiency from 1.44 (Lithuania) to 1.77 kg/min (US). Results also showed that the daily milk yield from one robot ranged from 1 351 kg (Latvia) to 1 930 kg (US). The statistical differences between the milking parameters in the compared countries may be the result of the diversified genetic potential of milked cows and the diversity of the feed base.