# Assessment of Production Technologies on Dairy Farms in Terms of Animal Welfare
## 6 Milking Technology
The objectives of implementing a herd management system are also considered when taking into account the benefits for cows and their welfare. Based on research on 22 dairy farms, [PERSON] et al. [63] indicated that the quality of housing and the management system may affect the welfare of cows. Sensors support the herd management system and at the same time can be an element of technology for assessing the welfare of dairy cattle [64]. The comfort and welfare of dairy cows are important arguments when comparing different milking technologies. Such comparisons are made to show the differences between conventional and automatic cow milking systems and to indicate more beneficial solutions in given farming conditions. These differences concern work efficiency, including the number of cows milked by a person per hour and the amount of milk milked per hour [65; 66]. Differences also include energy and water consumption per liter of milk obtained [67; 68]. The basis for comparison of conventional and automatic milking technologies is also technical efficiency indicators [69], milk quality [70; 71], milk yield of cows [72], udder health [73] and functional aspects of using milking systems [74]. What does the comparison of conventional and automatic milking technologies involve in terms of the welfare of dairy cows? In the study of [PERSON] et al. [75], the behavioral and physiological responses of milked cows were taken into account; it was concluded that as long as the welfare of cows is concerned, conventional and automatic milking systems are equally acceptable. In our own study [76] in a farm with a milking parlor, the number of cows that had to be forced to stand up from a lying position before going to the milking parlor was studied; it was pointed out that forcing cows to stand up can be considered in terms of welfare, and this is an argument for equipping farms with milking robots, where cows have the freedom to get up and go to the milking stall. Taking into account other aspects of cows' welfare resulting from contact with humans, after the transformation from a conventional to an automatic milking system, cows were less fearful around people and showed fewer stress reactions in response to close handling [77]. Various aspects of the assessment of milking technology using conventional and automatic methods are part of the considerations for the profitability of dairy farms [78; 79]. In these considerations related to technological changes in dairy farming, a change in the role of the stockperson is indicated [80]. However, it also seems important to emphasize the role of cow welfare in the assessment of technological changes in cow milking and dairy management. If technological changes in milking are considered in connection with the welfare of cows, the issue of milking on a pasture remains important. The development of milking technology on the pasture, and especially the use of AMS for milking cows combined with access to grassland, is an inspiration for assessing animal welfare. Comparing different options for access of robot-milked cows to the pasture, [PERSON] et al. [81] found that grazing appears to be beneficial to cow welfare. Cows milled with an automatic milking system in a pasture may experience longer milking intervals compared to cows milked with an AMS indoors. Milking intervals longer than 16 h have a negative impact on milk yield and udder health [82]. The health of cows has an impact on their welfare. Technology with access to the pasture of cows milled by a robot translates into the need for animals to walk longer distances. Longer distances to pasture may lead to reduced milk yield, milking frequency and grazing time for cows milled with AMS [83]. Especially this last aspect can be considered in terms of cow welfare. The implementation of technology on the farm that combines robotic milking with cows' access to grazing promotes animals' contact with the natural environment while also providing benefits to humans who save labor on milking.