Acidity of milk, indicating the amount of free fatty acids in milk increased. Since air inlet at attachment is relatively high in robotic milking, this may have an effect on the fatty acid composition of the milk. Discussion Robotic milking is certainly on its way to a larger part of the market share in milking equipment. Especially in countries with relative small herd sizes, and high labor costs, robotic milking is a viable alternative to conventional milking parlors. Most technical problems as far as attachment and operation seem to be overcome at this point in time.
Current concerns are on milk quality, efficiency, and economical cost-benefit ratio.
There are relatively few studies that have compared milk quality between farms with conventional milking and robotic milking. The studies that are reported using indicate an increase in plate loop count, and no of very little effect on somatic cell count. Plate loop counts can be decreased by adapting the cleaning procedures, increasing the number of cleaning cycles per day, and by solving the bulk milk cooling problem for the initial milk after cleaning. There are a number of options for cooling of milk immediately after cleaning of the bulk tank. A small buffer tank that takes the first milk after cleaning, and that is much earlier filled to capacity to be able to start cooling is a frequently used option.