Assessment of influence of milking with milking robot on selected parameters of dairy welfare

The goal of this graduation thesis was to find out the influence of milking by automatic milking system (AMS) to the physiological needs of dairy cows within 30 minutes after milking. Ethological study covered the needs for feed intake, water intake and need for lying down. In the next part were obtained data on performance of dairy cows and time data of milking (Preparation time for milking, milking time, and time in the milking box). For determination of an impact of various technologies on dairy cows, the results were compared with the data obtained on the farm with conventional milking technology (auto-tandem parlor). The need of feed intake in 30 minutes after milking was found in the barn with AMS at 75.51 % of dairy cows, in the barn containing auto-tandem parlor it was 84.37 % of dairy cows. Highest rate of silage intake after milking had dairy cows milked by conventional way. The need of water intake was found out in the barn with AMS at 41.79 % of dairy cows and in the barn containing auto-tandem parlor it was 33.45 % of dairy cows. Higher rate of water after milking had dairy cows on the farm using the milking robot. In terms of the needs of feed intake and water within 30 minutes after milking were found in both compared technology almost identical values, 28.23 % on the farm with AMS and 27.27 % on the farm with auto-tandem parlor. From this common intake was observed earlier water intake of animals on both farms of more than 80% percent. The percentage of the cows, which needed to lie down after milking, was found in both technologies very low. On the farm with AMS it was 3.7 % and on the farm with auto-tandem parlor 5.8 %. On the farm, where AMS is used, we could evaluate the physiological needs within 30 minutes after milking in the various parts of a day. The need to feed intake was the highest between 6pm and 12 am) and the lowest in the morning. The need of water intake after milking was highest in the morning between 6am and 12 pm and the lowest between midnight 12am and 6 am. The need of lie down after milking was highest between midnight and 6am and the lowest between noon and 6 pm. Milk yield per milking was 12.89 kg on the farm with AMS and 13.35 kg on the farm with auto-tandem parlor. The average daily milk yield was on the farm with AMS 36.47 kg and 26.7 kg on the farm with auto-tandem parlor. Lower milk yield per milking and higher average milk yield per day on the other hand on the farm with AMS is caused by a higher frequency of milking, among other factors. Preparation time for milking was 2:24 min with AMS and 2:02 with conventional type of milking. The time itself was detected in both methods over 5 minutes. With conventional type of milking the times were longer by almost 30 s (5:41min). The time in milking box was 7:07 min in the technology AMS and 8:16 min in the conventional system of milking. Frequency of using of milking robot during the day reached the lowest rate between 4 pm and 6 pm and between 4 am and 8 am. The increase in the number of milking after 6 pm relates with silage intake at this time. During comparison of analyzed technologies was found insignificant difference in the physiological needs within 30 minutes after milking. For verification of these conclusions it is important to increase amount of farms with conventional milking system