How long does it take cows to learn to use a robotic milking system and what is involved in training?
Typically, when an existing herd is switched to robotic milking it takes 3-4 weeks to reach a point where 85%-90% of cows use the system voluntarily. Younger cows and more aggressive cows seem to adapt most easily. Current philosophy in training is to work cows aggressively for 2-3 weeks by chasing every cow to the robot whenever her milking interval exceeds 8 hours. This training period assures cows have repeated exposure to the milking stall and understand that frequent visits are possible and rewarded with small allotments of grain fed during milking. After this period cows are left to fend for themselves and only moved by hand if milking intervals exceed 16 hours. Most new heifers learn the routine in 2 or 3 days, but some individuals take longer. A fresh cow may need individual attention for 1 or 2 days to assist with initial teat location. Tools used to encourage cows to attend for voluntary milking include grain fed in the robot stall. The 15 Ontario herds reported average grain
