Review article
https://doi.org/10.33128/k.66.1.6
The importance of morphological characteristics of udder for a successful robotic milking
Katarina Pandžić
orcid.org/0009-0006-0691-8930
; Hrvatska agencija za poljoprivredu i hranu, Osijek, Hrvatska
*
Tina Bobić
orcid.org/0000-0001-9975-1258
; Fakultet agrobiotehničkih znanosti Osijek, Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Osijek, Hrvatska
Zrinko Mikić
; Hrvatska agencija za poljoprivredu i hranu, Osijek, Hrvatska
Zdenko Ivkić
; Hrvatska agencija za poljoprivredu i hranu, Osijek, Hrvatska
Pero Mijić
orcid.org/0000-0003-3344-9317
; Fakultet agrobiotehničkih znanosti Osijek, Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Osijek, Hrvatska
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The present-day milking cows are selected with regard to the health and adaptability of the udder to a machine or robotic milking. Since the teat cups are placed automatically by a robot, the exterior features of the udder are crucial. A morphologically adequate udder, which has a good ratio of forequarters and hindquarters and an appropriate shape, size, and position of the teats, is a prerequisite for the cow’s good health and its adaptability to robotic milking. The advantage of robotic milking is reflected in an individual approach to each cow and a possibility to analyze a large set of data, collected daily after each milking. The new breeding values, such as the RZ Robot, are being developed, which combine the traits that are of great importance in the selection of bulls on farms that use the milking robots. As a number of milking robots increases every year, a work has been done to improve them, and the current robotic models that can be found on the market skillfully face the challenges of udder irregularities and are well equipped. Their improvement is mostly reflected in the success of creation of a new hybrid hand, with a lot of positive characteristics in the achievement of proper milking while taking care of the cows’ well-being and health.
Keywords
robotic milking; udder morphology; breeding value
Hrčak ID:
318354
URI
Publication date:
25.6.2024.
Visits: 53 *