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The AMS project focused on management, health, reproduction, and breeding practices on dairy herds with automatic milking systems (AMS). The project ended in 2022, and as of 2023, our research interests have been continued in the iKu project.

01 Jan 2016 - 31 Dec 2022

Norges forskningsråd, Fondet for avgiftsmidler på landbruksprodukter, Tine, Geno og DeLaval

  • The project focused on new opportunities and challenges arising from the use of milking robots, also known as automatic milking systems (AMS), in Norwegian dairy farms. Our research topics have been continued in the iKu project. We developed new methods for monitoring health, reproduction, and energy status of cows in AMS herds. Furthermore, we established new phenotypes for the breeding of Norwegian red cattle. We also investigated farmers motivations for investing in milking robots (AMS) and their strategies for integrating this technology.

    Over the past two decades, milk production in Norway has undergone significant transformations, with the majority of Norwegian cows now being milked in AMS herds. The transition from conventional milking to AMS involves substantial investment costs, often necessitating an increase in milk yield per cow.

    Health and fertility faces distinct challenges in Norwegian cattle due to the country's specific climate and geography, where grass silage serves as the primary source of roughage. Consequently, the implications of intensifying dairy farming require special consideration under Norwegian conditions.

    Milk production serves as the cornerstone of Norwegian food production, and it is crucial for decision-makers to understand the factors that motivate and enable farmers to undertake the necessary investments in transitioning from conventional milking systems to AMS.

    This project, titled "New Approaches for Management and Breeding of Dairy Cows in Automatic Milking Systems (NFR no. 244231)," received a basic funding of NOK 22 million. Furthermore, the project facilitated two "commercial sector Phd's" with a total budget of NOK 14 million: "Udder Health and Somatic Cell Count in Automatic Milking Systems (NFR no. 249158)" and "Efficient, Hygienic, and Cow-Friendly Milking of Dairy Cows in Automatic Milking Systems (NFR no. 249159)."

    Throughout the course of these three projects, researchers from various disciplines, including social science, livestock and veterinary science, mathematics, physics, and chemistry, collaboratively worked towards enhancing the well-being of both people and cattle within the Norwegian milk production sector.

  • The primary objectives of the three projects were to investigate the factors influencing farmers' decisions for the transition from traditional milking systems to AMS, and to establish novel phenotypes and monitoring techniques for assessing the health, reproduction, and energy status of Norwegian dairy cows

  • Milk Spectroscopy: Findings from the AMS project reveal that FTIR spectroscopy of milk can predict feed intake, energy balance, reproductive capacity, and the occurrence of certain diseases such as subclinical ketosis. The implementation of a milk composition and quality sensor on the farm would enhance resource efficiency, making it imperative to prioritize the development of this sensor technology

    Dynamic feeding is a concept well suited for AMS, facilitated by continuous monitoring of milk yield and the ability to make swift and frequent adjustments in feed (concentrate) allocation. Our results are important for advancing the adoption of dynamic feeding for Norwegian Red cows.

    Subclinical Mastitis: Our adaptations of OCC values demonstrate that farmers can employ our model for two key purposes: Identifying cows suitable for bacteriological milk culture, and for tracking the progression of subclinical mastitis at herd level. Moreover, the dynamic compartment model can be used to assess the effectiveness of management strategies, including culling, treatment, and the implementation of preventive measures against subclinical mastitis."

    Assessment of the milking process: We have demonstrated that several parameters typically derived from milking-time tests, such as milk flow and milking speed, can be directly collected from the AMS and utilized to evaluate its performance with regard to udder health. TINE will incorporate the findings from this project into their advisory services for Norwegian dairy farmers.

    Cattle breeding: We have demonstrated that data from AMS can be utilized to calculate breeding values and to develop new phenotypes. Geno will harness this knowledge and incorporate it into the calculation of breeding values as soon as a system for routine collection of all data from the AMS is in place.

    Political and Social Implications: Our research has highlighted the significance of political instruments in dairy farmers' decisions to invest in AMS. We have documented the interconnections between an individual farmer's investment choices, economic factors, and societal consequences. Furthermore, we've unveiled the impact of AMS on farmers' daily lives and overall well-being.

    In 2020 the following three PhD dissertations from the AMS project were approved at NMBU:

    Åshild Taksdal Randby

    Tidligere forsker

    Amira Rachah

    Tidligere postdoktor

    Karoline Bakke Wethal

    Tidligiere ph.d.-student

    Gunnar Dalen

    Tidligere ph.d.-student

    Håvard Nørstebø

    Tidligere ph.d.-student

    Dan Christoffer Jansen

    Tidligere ph.d.-student

    Eksterne deltakere

    Egil Petter Stræte

    Norsk senter for bygdeforskning

    Astrid Johansen

    NIBIO

    Håvar Steinshamn

    NIBIO

    Bjørn Gunnar Hansen

    TINE

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