STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE SHELTER SYSTEM WITH ROBOTIC MILKING SHELTER SYSTEM AND PARALLEL MILKING UNIT SHELTER SYSTEM AND THEIR COMPARISON IN TERMS OF ANIMAL WELFARE

Abstract: Robotic systems have been successfully used instead of human labor in many areas with the development of modern technology. One of the major problems encountered in the livestock sector in recent years is the demand for qualified human labor. In dairy cattle breeding, this need is further increased, especially in regular and hygienic practices of milking. For this reason, Robotic milking systems have been used in the livestock sector in recent years. However, the advantages and disadvantages of the system have not been evaluated. In this study, dairy cattle enterprises with robotic milking system and parallel milking system were compared in terms of animal welfare and breeding characteristics. For this purpose, the farm, which has 20 robotic milking systems with a 1000 head milk cow capacity in Konya Region and farm farms with 12 * 2 parallel system milking units having 1000 cow milk capacity were examined as material. In the study, the general characteristics, technical characteristics, farming system, efficiency parameters of animals were examined and compared in terms of animal welfare. As a result of the study, it was determined that the use of robotic systems largely eliminated the dependence on the labor force. Animal welfare has increased since it provides animals with the time and number of milking they want during the day. In addition, increased milk quality and yield was observed in robotic milking system compared to other systems. In spite of this, not planning the open navigation courtyard in the shelters where robotic milking system is used in the world and in Türkiye is undesirable and needs to be solved in terms of animal welfare.