Posted October 30th 2006 8:47PM

DeLaval of Tumba, Sweden has created an automated system for milking cows that requires no human aid and can decrease farmers' labor costs by tens of thousands of dollars per year. The robotic system is a self-serving milking machine that requires cows to be conditioned to take turns milking themselves. Once the cows get accustomed to the process the robot uses two lasers and a camera to guide a hydraulic arm to the cows' teats for milking.

DeLaval is targeting dairymen in their late 30s with young families and fewer than 250 cows in the traditional dairy markets of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and New York. Those farmers often would rather spend quality time with their children than be stuck milking cows 365 days a year

Each robot can handle about 60 cows, most of which get milked two or three times per day. The first robot costs $250,000 and additional ones run $200,000.

DeLaval began selling the system in Sweden and Holland about eight years ago and introduced it in the U.S. in April. The company has sold 600 units worldwide this year.

Source - Centre Daily