Dairyfarming mione guidebook 2014 brochure en 0315 tcm30 21607

MIone Guidebook

3 plus factors in your formula for success

engineering for a better world GEA Farm Technologies

2 | MIone Guidebook – Immer meine Wahl.

Table of contents

The formula for success ...................................................... 4-7

MIone at a glance ............................................................... 8-9

Milking with the MIone .................................................. 10-13

The path to success ......................................................... 14-15

Individual barn concept .................................................. 36-41

Optimal feeding .............................................................. 16-35

Ideal herd management ................................................. 42-49

GEA Farm Technologies | 3GEA Farm Technologies | 3

Start-up ............................................................................ 56-61

Until start-up .................................................................... 50-55

Further optimization after start-up ................................ 62-65

Service .............................................................................. 66-67

Your personal success story ........................................... 68-69

GEA Farm Technologies | 5

The formula for success

The MIone: the equipment for a sound investment in the future

By choosing the MIone automatic milking system (AMS), you have opted for maximum flexibility. The MIone does not restrict you to fixed milking times and it is not necessary for you to constantly be present during milk-ing – a huge advantage compared to conventional milking. From now on you can determine your daily routine yourself. Enjoy being able to personally plan your time – completely independent of scheduled milking times. While your cows follow their own milking cycle, you have more freedom for other tasks around the farm. This saves a great deal of time, which can be profitably invested in herd management and other important work. And while you and your cows enjoy this comfort, the proven GEA Farm Technologies milking equipment provides the greatest possible milk quality!

Planning for tomorrow with the MIone

Why choose the multibox system? It‘s simple really: As your herd grows, so does your MIone. Using the modular multibox principle, existing systems can be expanded as desired by up to five milking boxes positioned in line. The second generation of the MIone also symbolises long-lasting and top level performance, thanks to the high-quality materials and innovative components. The prospect of healthy growth on your farm is built into the MIone – and you can look forward to a positive future development!

We think in terms of a system, so that the formula works for you

It is no coincidence that the specialists at GEA are familiar both with the daily demands of dairy producers and the requirements of various breeds and types of animal. Because, as a leading Total Solutions provider, GEA maintains close contact with milk producers and service partners. Knowledge gained from all over the world flows directly into product development. At the same time, you provide us with the drive to constantly improvethe “milking intelligence” model for success. The MIone offers significant benefits in this regard. While the demands on an automatic milking system vary from country to country, they can still be streamlined into one single formula for success:MIone – the automatic milking system for greater safety, comfort and performance.

6 | MIone Guidebook – The right choice.

a for the continued development of your farma in reliability and durabilitya in udder healtha in milking hygienea in milk qualitya in servicea in safety for both people and animals

a for reduced working timea in working flexibilitya for optimised farm managementa for working ergonomicsa in working comforta in stall climatea in comfort for both people and animals

a in system performancea in working productivitya in sustainabilitya in energy efficiencya for reduced space requirementsa in profitabilitya in performance for both people and animals



MIone at a glance

Barn control• Manual intervention (e.g. manual attachment)• Additional feed portions• Option for Manual indexing• Cow data

Distribution of

concentrated feed........................

Either neck or

hoof identification

Touch screen

Conductivity sensorsColor sensorMilk separationMilk meteringMilk pump

Double milk filter

Calf milk separation,

also MS20 is an option

Milk receiver Dipping device

Hot water

unit enclosed


Spacious milking boxPneumatically-operated box gates

MilkRack cleaning

(CIP)

One MilkRack per boxwith a milking arm

Robot unit


Milking with the MIone

A precise working style, maximum comfort for both humans and animals, and a proven excellent performance level: all the plus factors are combined in the MIone success formula!

A safe, fast, gentle and complete milking process

The cows are happy to be milked in the MIone. Once the box has closed, the stress-free milking process begins: Attaching, stimulating, cleaning, drying, pre-milking, milking and the complete milking of each of the four individual quarters are carried out in one single step.

Attaching Stimulating Cleaning Drying Pre-milking Milking

After attachment, the cluster is able to move freely without causing any negative leverage forces under the cow. This means it can follow every movement the cow makes. No constant pneumatic readjustment is necessary – the milking process is carried out almost silently.

With a large selection of rubber or silicone liners, the equipment can be ideally adjusted to suit the herd. The stainless steel teat cup places the perfect weight under each udder quarter for good completion of milking. We milk gently and quickly with a low vacuum, thus creating the best conditions for persistently healthy teat condition.


Our interface between the cow and the machinery

The interface between the cow and the machinery is the MilkRack, which is positioned under the cow by the robot arm. While the base unit of the MilkRack is light and has a special robust design, the hood closes off and protects the equipment from dirt and being kicked by the cows. The well thought-out, segmented design of the teat cup arms enables each arm to be tightened and loosened as required. As such, the teat cups hang freely during milking, but cannot drop on the ground and become contaminated.

Design and disinfection for top udder health

There is no separate process for teat cleaning and pre-milking - everything is in one step. The MIone prevents the transmission of bacteria from teat to teat because there is no chance of cross-contamination. The design and functional principle of the MilkRack cleaning system (CIP) create optimum effective mastitis prevention. The upper part of the teat cups is cleaned after every milking. Optionally, a highly efficient, inexpensive intermediate disinfection can be carried out using peracetic acid.


New freedom directly at eye level

The MIone offers you greater freedom within your personal time schedule, as your presence is no longer abso-lutely essential during the milking process. But just watching the milking box is great fun! The MIone puts you directly at eye-level with the cows. All functional components of the box are arranged in such a way that there is an unhindered view and free access to the udder at all times.

Manual intervention is possible at any time

To ensure quick intervention the DemaTron operating panel is within easy reach. The MIone also makes it possible for you to quickly attach cows by hand, for instance those which have just started milking. This means that even young heifers can quickly become ac-customed to automatic milking and unnecessary stress for the animal can be avoided. With the MIone you can continuously keep an eye on the cow and its behavior in the box. Enjoy the spaciously good ergonomics and count the litres.


Greater protection for both humans and animals

The MIone is rated as one of the safest automatic milking systems currently on the market. Not only do contact sensors protect you when working on the operator side, but emergency stop switches on the boxes and the central unit also instantly halt the system if necessary.

A broader perspective from the moment you arrive

Well-structured and easy to operate, the touchscreen is conveniently located next to the system and displays all processes. So stop by and take a look. The system quickly and easily provides you with details on the cows‘ current yield data. If you wish, your MIone can also contact you directly: Important events will be immediately communicated to your mobile phone!


The path to success

The perfect blend of top-class quality and revolutionary service

As a milk producer, you must be able to completely rely on the performance of your system. The MIone combines top-quality equipment with exemplary skilled care and associated service from the planning stage through start-up right up to maintenance.So that you can take the first step into a successful future with your MIone, a number of elements must be com-bined to form an overall concept. Barn construction planning, the animal traffic concept and feeding play a keyrole. This guidebook leads you through the entire process of the integration of the MIone on your farm. It accompanies you on your path from barn planning through feeding and herd management up to the successful handover and initial milking strategy:

So as not to lose sight of the overall concept, several aspects will be discussed which you are probably well acquainted with. However, you may need to go over them again or reconsider them, as the switch from conven-tional to automatic milking can bring small, or even large, changes to your daily work and farm management. Our MIone Guidebook should help you to optimize these particular areas and procedures in particular – because top performance can only be achieved under ideal conditions.

Individual barn concept

Optimal feeding

Ideal herd management

Until start-up

Start-up

Further optimization after start-up

Service


Individual barn concept

Increased performance at every level

The first and most important step is the correct planning of the barn. The concept must be determined at the very beginning. You should take time doing so as this barn concept will be with you for a long time and will greatly influence your daily working procedures.Working productivity is our number one priority. If it is embedded into a holistic barn concept, the MIone enables any work which occurs to be tackled with very little effort and maximum effectiveness. Develop a vision of how your future as a successful milk producer should look like before you begin with the construction of your new milking center. Are you planning on increasing the size of your herd? Do you already have specific plans of what your barn should look like? How should your daily work in the barn be structured, and what do you believe to be important factors in your work? Our GEA Farm Design experts will be glad to provide you with support answering these and any other questions you may have, as well as concerns about their later implementation!However, no matter what your planning looks like, the cows should be able to reach the milking system stress-free and of their own free will from all areas of the barn at any time.

The cows are not led or driven to milking two or three times a day as in conventional milking. Instead, they discover their own individual milking routine. The decisive factor is that the cows can freely move within the herd. It is for this reason that GEA Farm Technol-ogies has developed the barn concept of the milking and management centre:

Milking and managementcentre Barn area

MIoneSelectionSpecial NeedsCalvingFresh cowsTechnologyMilk roomOffice

Resting area

Feeding area

Feeding

Wai

ting

are

a / s

orti

ng

Stress-free

Voluntarily

Without obstacles

24 / 7

From everywhere


Working at the happy medium

The focus is on short paths for both humans and animals. Automatic milking with the MIone concentrates all functions and equipment into the milking and management centre and thus on a central point. The major advantage is that you have all the relevant processes at a glance, and can easily organise your work and time individually.

In general, the milking and management centre consists of the MIone, the cooling system and tank, the farmer/herd manager’s office, the technical equipment room, a waiting area, a selection and treatment area and a calving/fresh cow area. The remainder of the barn is divided into the resting and feeding areas.

Office

Milk room

Technical equipment room

Feeding fence

Calving / fresh cow area

Milking and management in the centre:Your future workplace could, for example, look like this


Selection as demanded by the individual barn concept

Achieve your barn layout with the solution for animal traffic which best suits you and your herd.

MIone

Waiting area

Selection

Selection

and treatment area


Animal traffic

Animal traffic “Milking leads” – for relaxed animals

For a clear separation of the areas GEA recommends the priciple of selective guided cow traffic “Milking leads”. Throughout their daily cycle of milking, feeding and resting, your cows will feel completely at ease. A harmonious atmosphere will be created in the barn which is a combination of calmness and all the advantages of stress-free traffic and optimal feed intake.

milking

feeding

resting

Any animals wishing to move from the resting to the feeding area pass through a selection device. This guides those cows which do not require milking to the feeding tables. They can move freely through the system to feeding or resting at all times. Thus, cows not requiring milking do not block the MIone. On the other hand, cows which do require milking are guided to the waiting area in front of the MIone. This means that only cows that require milking are given access to the MIone. This ensures high capacity utilisation!

Plus factors of Milking leads

The cows have free access to the resting area via one-way gates

Through a pre-selection process between the functional areas of resting and feeding, only those cows which require milking are sent into the waiting area for milking. All others can go unhindered to the feeding area.

The system of pre-selection combined with one-way gates ensures that cows only enter the MIone if they need to be milked. This guarantees a continuously high level of system performance.

A maximization of feed intake at the trough.

Concentrates on top-performing cows and can reduce the feed costs through the use of top-quality feed components which are grown on the farm.

The risk of acidosis is reduced.

Provides great advantages for udder health (no lying with an open teat canal).

Ensures milking sessions throughout the lactation period.

Reduces the proportion of cows which have to be driven into the system.


Free animal traffic

However, individual barn planning can also enable free animal traffic. If desired, or due to an existing barn building which does not permit selectively controlled animal traffic, the MIone may, of course, also be used with completely free animal traffic. In this case the cows have unrestricted access to the cubicles, the feeding table and the milking system. However, this animal traffic concept places greater demands on the entire management concept and, in particular, on feed management. Even minor errors can lead to a reduction in the voluntary visits to the milking boxes and to an increase in the cows which require fetching. For instance, at the end of the lacta-tion period cows become less active and lose the incentive to seek out the MIone.

Note:

In order to ensure sufficient milking a appetizing feed must be provided in the MIone.

The energy content of the ration at the feed table should be designed to be approx. 5-7 kg under the average daily milk yield of the herd.

The proportion of overdue cows may be > 10 % of the cows which are giving milk (2 x a day).

The proportion of the cows which must be fetched is higher than in guided animal traffic.

The proportion of the cows requiring fetching is significantly higher in free animal traffic than in guided animal traffic with pre-selection (Milking leads). While for free animal traffic up to 15 % of the cows have to be fetched two times a day to milking, this percentage may be reduced to a minimum by the use of an intelligent pre-selection process similar to the Milking leads concept:

The figures given here have been confirmed through investigationsby Geidel et.al. 2012, Forsberg et al. 2002 and Harms et al. 2002.

If the labor cost for driving is examined, it can be seen that up to 5 man-hours per cow can be saved annually in guided cow traffic.

16%

14%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

0%Pro

po

rtio

n o

f d

rive

n c

ow

s Free animal

traffic

Guided animal traffic with pre-selection

The cows have completely free access to the resting/feeding area and unlimited access to the MIone.


Free Exit

In contrast to the Guided Exit system, there is no driving passageway in front of the milking boxes. Thus, milked cows gain access to the feeding area via the waiting and pre-selection areas which means that both pre-selection and post-selection occur in the same area. The essential advantage of this system is the low amount of construc-tion work required.However, the cows must be initially trained to promptly leave the waiting area.

Guided and Free Exit When configuring the milking box you are able to choose between the Guided or Free Exit systems.

Guided Exit

In Guided Exit a driving passageway is located in front of the actual milking box entrances. Cows can only enterthis if another cow has left the box. Once milked, cows are either guided directly to the feeding area via the driving passageway or can optionally be guided to a post-selection point from which they are then sent to the various areas of the barn. A great advantage of this system is that cows which have already been milked cannot directly enter the milking box for a second time creating highly effective system utilization. In addition, the use of Guided Exit causes less stress for subordinate cows, as the waiting area can only be accessed by cows which are due for milking.


Combinations – What will you go for?

Ultimately, you must seek out the right concept for your own requirements and conditions. We will be happy to assist you in this. These are the four combination options you have:

Free animal traffic with Free ExitFree animal traffic with Guided Exit

Selective guided animal traffic with Free ExitSelective guided animal traffic with Guided Exit


Major influences on barn layout

Walking – Comfortable non-slip

The concept of an automatic milking system can only succeed if the cows are able to move freely and with-out any restrictions. Therefore, two things are essential in the design of the walkways: Cows require a walkway which gives them a secure footing and which, at the same time, minimizes the risk of injury.For the walking surface, there is a choice between solid and slatted floors. Whichever you go for, regular clean-ing of the floor is of upmost importance. Slip resistance ensures that animal traffic is stress-free and supports the natural physiology of your cows! There are also several possibilities for automation here: Cable scrapers or chain scrapers are best suited to solid floors. For slatted floors the SRone scraper robot from GEA Farm Technologies is recommended.

In addition to cleanliness, your cows also need suffi-cient space so that they can move without restrictions both inside and between the individual functional cycle areas. The cows must be able to access the various functional areas without hindering each other. Therefore, bear in mind the most suitable dimensions which are shown here:

> 4

.00

m

> 4

.00

m > 3

.00

m


The use of hoof baths is an excellent aid for the maintenance of hoof health in the herd. This helps, in particular, to selectively restrict the spread of Mortellaro’sdisease. Only cows walking on healthy hooves will regularly seek out the milking robot. A highly decisive factor in automatic milking is the correct positioning of hoof baths in the barn. Where possible, the bath should not be placed directly in front of or behind the milking box. The cows might otherwise associate a negative experience with the milking procedure which would reduce the frequency of their visits.

Optimally, the cows should be driven one or two times a week through a hoof bath at the end of the barn. As the cows do not have to negotiate such an obstacle on a daily basis the cow traffic flows freely. Together with your vet, you can find out what care products are most suitable for your herd. For an effective moistening of the hooves with the care product, the length of the bath should be designed so that it can be entered with all four feet. The width of the bath should equate to the width of the driving passageway so that the cows cannot evade it when being driven through.

Change-over – Comfortable, quick and without any obstacles

Additional connecting paths between the individual functional cycle areas give the cow the opportunity to select between two routes within the barn in order to avoid a dominant cow, for instance. To ensure that the path lengths are kept to a minimum a passageway should be positioned after every 15-20 cubicles. Passageways at the barn ends also prevent the generation of dead ends.

< 3

.00

m A slope of 2-4%in the passagewaysstarting fromthe centre and a 15-20 cm high step minimizesoiling from excrement.


Width of the passageway Distance of the first passageway from the AMS

Distance between 2 passageways

3 x the width of the cubicle> 4,6 m with trough

> 3,5 m without trough

10 - 15 x widthof the cubicle

15 - max. 20 x widthof the cubicle

Passageways are also very suitable for the positioning of a trough as long as additional cow traffic is not disturbed. There must also be sufficient space here for drinking and moving along the passageways:

Maintaining the dimensions given above has a great influence on the effectiveness of the MIone. A decisive factor is that the milking robot can be accessed by all cows without any problems. If the walkways or passageways are too tightly dimensioned, more dominant cows could block the way. As a consequence, the number of cows which you must manually drive to the milking robot on a daily basis increases.

W 3 x W

W 4 x W


Selection – Revolutionary and easy to negotiate

Automatic animal selection represents a central element of our “Milking leads” animal traffic concept (selec-tive guided cow traffic). It simplifies herd management, in particular, and also daily work with the animals. The entrance should be part of the normal animal flow so that the animals take a direct path to the selection area. To ensure that animal traffic is not impeded, the cow must also be able to leave the selection point unhindered. We recommend placing a direct exit in the direction of the feeding table.

Milking required

Selection

Feeding table


After milking, all the cows requiring special attention or treatment are selected from the herd and guided to the treatment/selection area. The cows can then, according to requirements and taking the shortest possible path, be guided individually or as a group to milking.The treatment and selection area should essentially have space for about 10 % of the herd. Should a larger number of animals require selection at short notice due to special circumstances (e.g. animal examinations, injections), the treatment area can ideally be expanded using flexible gates. The fitting of a self-locking fence simplifies work on and with the animal. With good planning and short paths, a significant amount of working time can be saved. The manual driving in of animals/groups should be considered in individual cases. Your organ-isation of this area significantly determines whether work can be simply and quickly carried out!


Care – Quick, effective and stress-free

Our attention should not just be on the high milk yield “normal cows”. A dairy herd does not simply consist of cows which can always be milked, but rather it also includes non-lactating cows, cows that have just calved, heifers and also cows suffering from short-term illness. It is said that 20 % of the cows create 80 % of the work. We did not invent the term “Special Needs Cows,” but we have incorporated it into our philosophy. With the MIone you can also take care of this section of the herd through effective and successful working.

What are “Special Needs Cows”?

• Cows which are not yet used to the system

• Heifers

• Fresh cows

• Lame cows

• Cows requiring treatment

- Mastitis cows

- Non-lactating cows

• Weak, nervous cows

• Cows at the end of the lactation period


The Special Needs area should be sufficient for about 5 % of the herd. If it is covered with straw, > 10 m² per animal should be planned in order to provide sufficient comfort. The ratio of the straw area to cubicles dependson the type of cow which is intended to be accommodated in the straw bay. A direct and short driving in path to the waiting area would be optimal. There are two options available: Manual driving with controlled milking of the cows or an independent access by the cows to the waiting area with automatic re-selection.Where there is a two-part separation area, the “Special Needs Cows” do not necessarily have to be kept on straw.Straw means much more work. The more flebility in the design of this area, the better attention can be paid to the needs of the animals.

Waiting – Comfortable and without disruption

A space of 2.5 m² per animal should be planned in the waiting area, whereby the total space should accommo-date approx. 10-15 % of the herd. The length of the waiting area is given by the length of the system. To ensure that the cows can comfortably turn or avoid more dominant animals a width of at least 5 m, or preferably 7 m, is recommended. Here, we recommend a slatted floor, as this prevents too much dirt from entering the MIone via the cows’ hooves. This means greater cleanliness and hygiene in the milking area. However, other floor treat-ments, such as rubber matting, have shown increased cow comfort. So that the cows in the waiting are are not disturbed, we recommend manual cleaning of the area. In addition, it should be ensured that there is sufficient light.

feed

~12.5 m2 / box

~12.5 m2 / box


Lying – pure relaxation

The behaviour when lying down is a central criteria in the cows’ wellbeing, health and yield. For this reason you should try to match the conditions in the cubicles as closely as possible to the cows’ natural lying habits and natural lying position. Studies have shown that lying and the consequently improved blood circulation in the udder have a significant influence on the milk yield. An extended lying period of one hour can lead to a cow producing up to 1.7 litres more milk!Lying also provides the opportunity to reduce the strain on and dry the hooves, which has a positive effect on hoof health. An average lying period of at least 12 hours per day should be the goal.

110

100

90

80

70

60

Milk

yie

ld (

Ib/d

)

Resting time (h)7 10 13 17

Y = 49.2 + 3.7xR2 = 0.30

~ 1.7 l moremilk for every additional hour

Cubicle frame

Neck bar

Brisket board

(Grant, 2005)


Since a natural pattern of lying down and resting is particularly desirable, you should, at the same time, pay attention to good hygiene in the cubicle. This also has a great effect on the health of hooves and, in particular, of the udder. In order to protect the lying area from extreme soiling and to position the cow correctly, the cubicle is made up of various components: A brisket board, a neck bar and a cubicle frame frame. In the table shown below standard dimensions are listed for various live weights. You should always concentrate essentially on the largest 25 % of the animals in the herd. It can be easily seen from the behavior of the herd whether the cubicle size meets the demands of the cows. When they are satisfied, more than two-thirds of the cows lie down in the cubicles. In addition, experience shows that the procedure of lying down takes no longer than 30-45 seconds after entering the cubicle where the equipment is suitable.

Cubicle size by body weight

Live weight 545 (kg)




Cubicle width

Length of lying area

Total cubicle length(wall side)

Total cubicle length(double cubicle)

Height of neck rail

Distance of cubicle edge to neck bar

117

Height of brisket board

173

244

488

117

209

8

122

178

274

518

122

215

10

127

180

305

549

127

220

10

137

183

305

549

132

225

10

With regard to the construction of the cubicles, an essential differentiation can be made between high and deep cubicles. No matter which cubicle you decide on, cleaning should take place at least two times daily and refilling of the bedding at least once a week. Clean cows with clean udders are a guaranteed plus factor in milking hygiene.

Fig. based on Nordlund and Cook, 2006 University of Wisconsin/Madison


Feeding – appropriate and clean

When milking with the MIone you should attempt to achieve a ratio of cows to feeding stations of <1:1.5. Inthis way, food intake is possible at all times, even for less dominant animals. Where an automatic feeding system is used, the ratio can be expanded to up to <1:2. In doing so, the regulations in the individual country and region should be observed. A self-locking safety feed fence can be utilized to serve as an additional treat-ment location. The feeding table should have a smooth surface which is easy to clean. Please ensure that the feeding table is regularly cleaned, and that the feed supply is pushed forward several times.

Drinking – unrestricted and tasty

Cows drink four to five liters of water for every litre of milk which is produced. The volume depends on yield, feed intake, air temperature and humidity, water temperature and quality. Thus, the water requirement under heat stress increases by 1.2 to 2 times of the normal requirement.In order to counteract a lower milk yield as a result of their water intake being too low, cows should not be restricted in terms of the water intake they require. Your cows should be provided with sufficient drinking spaces. As dominant cows could force other cows away from the trough, at least two troughs should be pro-vided for each group and 10 cm trough length allocated for each animal. A trough should be positioned within a radius of 15 m from every barn area. In addition, no trough should be located directly at the exit/entrance of the MIone/waiting area, because this could lead to congestion and thus to a blockage of the milking robot.

A good water quality is a fundamental requirement for the production of top-quality milk. Therefore, it is im-portant to clean the troughs and change the water at least once daily.


< 20 cows 2 troughs

20 - 40 cows 3 troughs




Light – soothing for enhanced yield

The influence of light on milk production, growth and the wellbeing of the animals is undisputed. Practical tests have shown that there is an increase in yield of 6-12 % where the day is divided into a bright period of 16 hours and a dark period of 8 hours. Additional positive aspects are better heat detection and an increased feed intake of up to 8 %.During the day, a light intensity of approx. 150-200 lux is recommended in the barn although a clear change from a darker to a brighter area should be avoided in the lighting.

Air – fresh and suitably temperate

Cows require a dry and clean environment and sufficient fresh air. Air temperature, humidity and air movement have a particular influence on the cows’ yield. In a moderate climate, ventilation often takes place with the aid of the natural air flow. In summertime this can be enhanced with fans or fog systems.

If extreme conditions exist, special ventilation systems may be a sensible choice. Fresh air can be brought into the barn by the installation of fans on the barn building wall. The air inside the barn begins to circu-late as a result and the stale air mixes with the newly introduced air. Humidity, heat and pollutant gases are thus extracted from the barn. A temperature range of 4-24 °C is considered optimal. At 24 °C cows begin to feel heat stress, from 27 °C their appetite significantly reduces. The consequence of the reduced feed intake: a loss of milk. In certain cases this may also have an effect on fertility and hoof health.


Optimal feeding

When working with the MIone, feeding has a great influence on the success of the entire system. The number of visits in the AMS is greatly dependent on the feeding system. The reason behind this is that the cows do not visit the milking robot because they want to be milked but rather because they receive their tasty concentrated feed there.Whereas TMR (total mixed ration) feeding is preferred in conventional milking, a so-called PMR (partly mixed ration) should be used for an AMS. In a TMR, concentrated and basic feed are mixed together so that the cow receives the energy it requires from the feed provided at the feeding table. However, with this feeding concept, the cows lose the incentive to seek out the MIone. They lose their appetite for the concentrated feed. Therefore, we recommend providing a PMR at the feeding table. This should be designed for less milk than the average daily milk yield of the herd amounts and be made up of at least 40 % dry mass. The PMR has a lower energy content compared with the normal TMR, but the proportion of raw proteins, mass and trace elements should nevertheless be equal.

How much less the ration on the feeding table should be than the average herd yield/day depends on the animal traffic concept. For free animal traffic the general recommendation applies that the ration on the feeding table should be reduced by about 5-7 kg in relation to the average daily milk yield. For selective guided cow traffic the ration on the feeding table can be just under the average daily milk yield of the herd.


In the MIone, cows obtain their concentrated feed from a mobile feeding basin which makes optimal use of the cubicle space depending on the size of the animal.

All animals are presented with the same basic ration on the feeding table. Then, in the milking robot, each individual animal is allocated a tasty concentrated feed based on its yield. This feed has an energy content which is around 10% higher than that in the basic ration on the feeding table. Generally, it has to be considered that that approx. 80 % of the milk yield should be fed at the trough and approx. 20 % via the MIone. The important factor is that the ration con-tains sufficient fibre. Studies have shown that rations with too low structured fibre content stimulate the cow’s rumen to a lesser degree. This makes the cow lethargic and has the consequence that fewer visits to the robot take place. In addition, a reduced structural content increases the risk of ruminal acidosis.

Diagram: The proportion of the cows requiring driving increases in free animal traffic where there is a higher energy content in the feed on the feeding table (our own research)


In principle, the cows should be presented with fresh PMR twice a day, where possible. A remainder of 3-10 % should be assumed when calculating the ration. Apart from this, the feed should be pushed forward several times a day. The activity at the feeding table makes the feed more attractive for the cows and leads to both an an increased feed intake and improved animal traffic. In particular on very warm days the quality of the feed can thus be checked at the same time.A reliable alternative to conventional feeding via a feed mixer wagon is provided by the automatic feeding systems from GEA Farm Technologies. Automated feeding – several times a day. This means a significant work saving while at the same time at the same time providing an incentive for feed intake as well as a positive influ-ence a positive influence on the animal traffic.


< 2 kg Concentrated feed / Milking

CriticalpH value

> 2 kg Concentrated feed / Milking

Longer time required for the regulation of the rumen pH value with increased

concentrated feed provision during milking

OptimumpH value

Diagram: Extended periods between milking sessions due to high concentrated feed provision

The high energy concentration (> 7 MJ NEL) of the robot feed has the advantage that less concentrated feed has to be fed for the same energy intake. From a nutritional standpoint no more than 2 kg of concentrated feed should be allocated on each visit.

Increased quantities of concentrated feed during milking have a negative effect on the periods between milking sessions, as the cows spend more time in the cubicle in order to balance out the rumen pH value. Conversely, the cow thus visits the MIone and the feeding table less often. At the same time the cow may have insufficient time during milking to eat the ration and blocks the system.

In practice it has been shown that the use of pelleted concentrated feed has various advantages. The rustling in the feeding trough of the MIone entices the cows, as they associate the noise with a positive experience. In contrast, crushed or mashed feed tends to lead to an increased formation of dust and sticking which may in turn lead to blocked pipes. Mold can also form more quickly.

A further important aspect which should be taken into consideration is the setting of the speed of feeding. Cows eat pelleted concentrated feed at a rate of approx. 300-400 g per minute. A cow only manages approx. 250 g per minute of crushed or mashed feed. This should absolutely be considered in the calculation and allocation. The values should be checked at regular intervals, as too much remaining feed at the end of milking hinders the cow from leaving the milking box. The high milking frequency of the milking robot is thus affected. For each milking only as much concentrated feed should be dispensed as the cow can eat in the given time. As an example: With an eating rate of 350 g/min., an average milk flow of 2 liters/min. and a milked volume of 10 litres, it would thus be possible for a cow to eat a maximum of approx. 1.8 kg.

Above all that, the ideal concentrated feed for your herd is the one which tastes good for your cows. Soya, molasses, pulp, glucose and also grain maize have a positive influence on the taste. A concentrated feed with a high proportion of grain maize is preferable compared to higher grain content due to its slower starch digesti-bility.


Such a possibility of allocating feed individually to the animals ensures that the herd remains healthy and is suit-ably profitable due the exact calculation of the required amount of concentrated feed. However, double feeding via an additional concentrated feed station should be avoided. Specifically, this means that a cow should not be able to call up feed at the concentrated feed station before and after the milking process but that it should be blocked for a specific time. An unintended reduction in the rumen pH value, which could increase the risk of ruminal acidosis, will be thus avoided.

Feeding: We summarize

The success of the MIone depends to a great extent on the correct feeding

The concentrated feed which is fed in the MIone must be of a high quality and tasty

Minimum 0.5 kg / maximum 2 kg of concentrated feed per milking

Maximum 5-6 kg of concentrated feed per animal and day in the MIone

An additional concentrated feed station is required in the barn for quantities of over 6 kg per animal and day

Eating rate of pelleted concentrated feed: approx. 350-400 g/min.

Eating rate of mashed grain mixture: approx. 250 g/min.

The concentrated feed must be eaten up at the end of the milking, otherwise the box will be unnecessarily blocked

Too large of doses of concentrated feed during milking extend the periods between milking sessions

Too high grain content in concentrated feed should be avoided

The concentrated feed must be calibrated for every new supply

Milking leads: An uprated ration just under the average daily milk yield of the herd may be fed

Free animal traffic: The energy content of the ration at the feeding table should be designed to be approx. 5-7 kg under the average daily milk yield of the herd


Ideal herd management

More time instead of milking time

You save a great deal of time as a result of the elimination of fixed milking times. Take advantage of this for im-portant tasks to which you can now devote more attention than previously. Invest your newly acquired freedom in particular in herd management to optimize the health of the animals and the yield of the herd in the medium and long term for a maximum milk yield.

You and your cows will experience big changes with the move to the MIone. These will be particularly felt in the various management areas. In the past you had fixed milking times. Through the elimination of fixed milking times both humans can freely plan the course of their day. In conventional milking systems, the presence of a human is required during the milking procedure to physically milk the cow, check each individual animal and to detect illness. The automatic system takes over these tasks for you to a great extent with the aid of sensors on the MIone, but it does not replace regular observation of the animals and checking on the PC.

The recording and evaluation of data is an integral part of herd management in order to obtain informa-tion on the status of the herd. However, the obser-vation of the herd in the barn cannot be completely replaced by the aids mentioned. It is the visual percep-tion of the herd or individual animals in the barn in conjunction with the results from the sensors that lead to an exact diagnosis.


The milk speaks volumes

The first signs of a change in the health of an animal can be detected even from the free flow of the milk. With its sensitive, yet robust, sensors for the measurement of conductivity, colour and milk volume the MIone analyses each milk release to a high degree of significance as standard. Alarm messages inform you immediately of any changes.

All of this can of course be seamlessly integrated into the DairyPlan herd management system. We can also com-bine this information with activity measurement systems, such as Cow View or CowScout, to get a better overall view of the individual animal health and behavior. The linking of the combined data enables quick and accurate analyses for fast reactions and targeted actions.

Your personal competence center in the barn office

You can really get to know your herd with DairyPlan C21: Easily understandable diagrams and lists provide you with a complete range of information on milk yield, activity, fertility, health or feed intake for each individual cow. Thanks to extensive monitoring and alarm functions, you are able to keep a close eye on the health of your cows at all times. The herd management brings your milk production on track, particularly in the long term. The complex data detects the need for action at an early stage and is the ideal basis for the optimisation of yield in the future!

The monitoring of action, control and alarm lists which the herd management program supplies several times daily thus becomes your new main task. Such man-agement tasks are not fixed to set times, but a certain amount of routine is nevertheless essential. The time saved varies greatly from farm to farm and in the end is dependent on the overall complexity. The farmer, the management, the barn concept and the animals, too, are deciding factors in the success of the system!


The future daily routine

When using an automatic milking system it is very important to consider the daily and weekly working procedures from the very beginning and to establish a certain routine for the cows. This includes such elements as the driving in of problem cows which have not voluntarily sought out the milking robot. We recommend combining this directly with the cleaning of the boxes. However, ensure that this action does not always take place at the same time of the day. Otherwise, the cows will quickly become accustomed to the procedure and will explicitly begin to wait to be driven.

A saving in working time is not necessarily directly guaranteed in the initial months. It may even be that the time required increases in total in the first weeks, as both humans and animals have to initially become accustomed to the new system. The cows have to learn how they voluntarily seek out the MIone during the course of the day and each animal has to find its individual rhythm which is now no longer bound to fixed milking times. On average at least 2 milking sessions per day should be ensured throughout the lactation period. Special attention should be paid to this, in particular at the end of lactation, as cows lose the incentive to seek out the MIone. If cows are no longer milked regularly 2 x / day at the end of lactation, this may lead to a significant reduction in their yield.Calm and considerate handling of your cows is especially important, particularly in the transition stage from the old to the new system so that they can quickly become accustomed to the new situation.

Their interaction within the system governs the success.


Further tips

Inspect the udders on your herd

Udder configuration is an important factor when thinking about the performance of your MIone. Cows which have caused problems in the milking parlour as a result of the shape of their udder will not fare better in the milking robot. Manual assistance, as in a conventional milking parlour, is also generally possible in the MIone. This should, however, be restricted to Special Needs cows. You should therefore consider parting with animals where the attachment process is generally a problem. Because manual intervention takes time – time that you would normally save upon acquisition of an automatic milking system, it is important to apply this time elsewhere, thus utilizing the system more sensibly. Make a critical check of the ability of your herd to be milked. Animals which could only be attached with difficulty and be milked with support in a conventional milking par-lour can often no longer be attached by an automatic milking system. This leads to disturbance, additional work and a reduction in throughput.

Insufficient space between the teats to be able to attach the teat cups. Extremely angled teats may be able to be attached but cannot be easily milked.

Limits for successful attachment

Limits for successful milking:

If the teats are located too close to the outside or too near to the central ligament, the liner can no longer be supported against the base of the udder and pulls in air.For the selection of the correct liner we recommend measuring the teats on your herd in advance. Our specialist will be glad to assist you in the selection of the correct liner.


Make udder care a priority

Udder care is important for guaranteeing secure at-tachment. Dirt adheres to hairy udders more quickly and can in some cases, for instance, be wrongly detected as a teat. In order to prevent such errors the udders should be scorched or trimmed at regular intervals. The correct care of the boxes and the pre-vention of lying on slats round off the precautions for a perfect udder.

The cows have to move…

It is possible that animals in heat may not keep to their usual daily routine. They rest and eat less than normal, which generally leads to a fall in their milk yield. In some cases the cows also do not come for milking, which reduces the milk yield further. So be prepared to potentially have to drive even well trained cows to the MIone.An additional aspect which should be taken into consideration in this respect is general fertility. When using an automatic milking system particular note should be taken at the end of lactation when animals tend to visit the system less often, causing milk yield to decline. Therefore, it is all the more important that the cows become pregnant again in regular reproductive cycles.

… and thus their hooves must be cared for

Regular hoof care in the herd is absolutely necessary for a high frequency of milking. The success of a milk-ing robot is based on the cows appearing for milking of their own free will. Cows which are lame or which are in pain when they move are less likely to seek out the milking box.


No stress for heifers

As with conventional milking systems it is also important in automatic systems to allow heifers to spend time with the dairy herd a few weeks before calving so that they can adapt to their rhythm and become accustomed to the milking robot. During this time a heifer gets to know the MIone as a feed dispenser. The stress is then minimised after calving.

Top up box straw

Weekly

1 - 2x

Weekly tasks

Care of MIone + accessories 1x

Optimization of the milking groups 1 - 2x

Removal of udder hair 1x (possibly every 14 days)

Check concentrated feed 1x


Check on cows with too high periods between milking sessions

Check on cows with milking alarm messages (conductivity, color, milk volume)

Morning Evening

X X

Drive in cows with a milking alarm message of > 75 % and clean troughs and cubicles and place new straw

X X

Check on cows with “incomplete milking” X X

Check activity list and check on any possible animals in heat X X

Check robot performance X X

Fetch Special Needs cows: nervous heifers, cows for checking X X

Train new animals X X

Change milk filters X X

Clean milking boxes and camera X X

Visual check of the MIone X X

X X

Cows seek out the MIone not because of the udder pressure but because of the concentrated feed provided.

Important facts

The concentrated feed provided in the MIone must be very tasty and of a high quality.

One of the most important factors for success is a balanced ration and excellent feed management.

Lame or sick cows (also cows with sub-clinical acidosis) will not seek out the MIone of their own free will.

Disturbances in the daily routine (hoof care, the scraping of slats with a tractor, herd health checks) reduce the throughput.

Long udder hair, too close placements of the teats and agitated cows extend the attachment times and thus reduce the throughput.

More time must be spend on interpreting the key performance figures.

Daily tasks


Until start-up

We accompany you in the successful introduction of your MIone

Installation Milking start

Herd

Operator

Weeks

16 12 8 4

• SCC check

• Possible renovation of existing buildings

• Hoof care

• Ration design, calculation

• Changeover of feeding

• Possible further SCC check

• Familiarising the cows with AMS

• Familiarising the animals with the barn

• Selection of “no-go” cows

• Udder care (scissors, scorching)

• Intensive animal care

• Intensive animal care

• Optimise the barn maintenance

• Determine and train operating personnel

• Familiarisation with the equipment

• Understanding the analyses

• HM training

• Define the group division, milking frequency

• Daily working routine, define operational planning

• HM: Create the animal data in the software

• Monitoring feeding

• Checking udder health

• Yield monitoring

• Observe and, if necessary, correct animal traffic and milking frequency

The whole management fundamentally changes with the switch to an automatic milking system. In order to make this transition as smooth as possible a number of preparations must be carried out at an early stage. Some of these actions affect your herd and others yourself. Please take the following steps into account in your planning at the intended intervals.


Stage 1: up to 16 weeks before start-up

Four months before start-up you should evaluate the average cell count of your herd, have quarter milk samples tested and, where necessary, treat some animals. It is essential that milking with the MIone should begin with animals that have a healthy udder. In the initial period after commissioning you may see a slight increase in the cell count, as the animals are exposed to additional stress through the change to automatic milking and a further negative effect may come about from varying periods between milking sessions. Of particularimportance in stage 1 is the planning of further actions in the subsequent period.

SCC check with a microbiological investigation is carried out

Check-list for stage 1:

Cows with chronic mastitis are eliminated

Cows not suitable for the robot are identified and possibly culled

A schedule for the transition stage is drawn up

Stage 2: 15-8 weeks before start-up

A determination of the future feed strategy and an optimization of box care take place approx. three months before the first milking. As a result, the animals will slowly become adjusted to the changes from the very begin-ning. Clean cubicles promote udder health and have a positive effect on the attachment process, as clean udders and teats can be better detected by the camera. Around two months before start-up, you should become famil-iar with the new equipment and the herd management program. Only in this way can the evaluated data be correctly understood and used in the future. We will be happy to support you in this.It is important to the success of automatic milking that your cows are good on their feet. You should generally devote time to the hooves of your herd. If the transfer to the MIone takes place in old buildings, you should carry out a hoof care procedure for the entire herd at this point in time. However, if a move to a completely new barn is planned, the hoof care procedure should not be carried out immediately before or after the move, as new walkways and slats are generally rougher than normal. The hooves then become correspondingly more worn which may lead to lameness with freshly cut hooves.

Feed ration is determined

Check-list for stage 2

DairyPlan is installed

Box care is optimized

Old building: All the cows’ hooves are cut

New barn: Hooves are not cut directly before the change to the new barn


Stage 3: 7-4 weeks before start-up

Should a number of feed components change in the ration which should be fed in the future, we recommend you to gradually change over the feeding seven to four weeks before start-up. The villi and bacteria in the rumen have to get slowly accustomed to the new feed so that there is not a sudden drop in yield in the subse-quent stressful situations. The herd should undergo an udder health check once more in the course of this, and animals should be treated where necessary. To ensure that you are able to come to terms with the new herd management program in the following period, a training course should be attended.

Feed ration is changed where necessary


Further SCC check

A DairyPlan training course attended

Stage 4: 3 weeks before start-up (installation)

The installation begins approx. three weeks before start-up Now the various milking groups should be set, the frequency of milking determined and daily working routines and the future operational planning defined. In ad-dition, the animals’ data is entered into the herd management PC. From now on, the whole herd management, such as the maintenance of the cow calendar and entering of all animal actions, should be carried out using the program. A condition for this is, of course, that you are familiar with the equipment and the most important operations on the MIone.The feeding must have been adapted to the AMS by this time as well. The concentrated feed distribution should be calculated with the assistance of a feed consultant and after consultation with your dealer or his DairyPlan specialist. In doing so, the influence of the concentrated feed on health, cow traffic and behaviour is taken into account. During the installation stage a constant exchange of information must take place between all persons involved, the construction companies and the local workers. Problems can thus be detected at an early stage and eliminated. The constructional requirements must be continuously monitored so that a smooth-running procedure can be ensured. The entire installation should be carried out by trained personnel. Make sure that at the time of the installation all construction work is largely completed and electricity, water and air supplies are available.


The frequency of milking is determined

Construction complies with the plans

A service contract is in place

The correct position of the MIone was determined

√

The waiting area is sufficient

The selection area is fitted with self-locking fences

A suitable date for the start-up is determined

The MIone was checked for its operability by authorized personnel

An internet connection exists

√

The system’s test log has been signed and handed over

Stage 5: 1 week before start-up

Shortly before the beginning of milking you should select so-called “no-go” cows from the herd. The udders on all the remaining cows should be trimmed or scorched to ensure smooth attachment by the robot. Now it is also time to place the rescounters or transponders on your animals. We also recommend spreading loose concentratedfeed in excess of the basic feed ration on the feeding table two to three times daily several days before the planned start-up. This helps the cows to become accustomed to the separate concentrated feed distribution.

In addition, ensure that sufficient helpers will be available for the week of the start-up. As soon as the change-over to the MIone has been completed, intensive care of the animals will initially become your main task. This includes the monitoring, and, where necessary, correcting of the animal traffic and frequency of milking. Continued particular attention should be paid to the udder health, the monitoring of feeding and yield monitoring.

Daily working routines are determined

Check-list stage 4 (Installation)

The use of DairyPlan has been trained and is known

All animal actions are carried out using DairyPlan

Milking groups are set


All data on the animals have been entered into DairyPlan

The amount of concentrated feed has been set and calculated

A top-quality and tasty concentrated feed has been selected for distributionin the MIone You are familiar with the most important lists in DairyPlan

You have been trained in DairyPlan

You are aware of the emergency phone numbers

You are familiar with the most important working steps on the MIone

An exact schedule has been drawn up for the start-up

Sufficient helpers are available for the start-up

All construction work has been completed


Operating instructions have been read and understood

All udders have been trimmed or scorched

Responders or rescounters have been attached to all animals and the data stored in the herd management program

Animals have been allocated to various milking groups based on their yield

√

√


Start-up

The high-quality equipment on the MIone ensures precise working and gentle milking seven days a week, day and night. You should note certain things so that the initial days of the new milking system run as smoothly as possible:

1. Number of animals at the robot

The number of animals with which the MIone is started up, has a big influence on the acceptance of the MIone. In general, the more animals per box, the longer start-up takes. If the start-up begins with fewer animals per milking box, the waiting time is shorter. This means less stress, and the cows generally accept the MIone more If the start-up begins with fewer animals per milking box quickly. Cows that are intended for culling should be eliminated before start-up where possible. An alternative may be to plan the date for start-up for a point in time when the proportion of nonlactating cows is higher.

2. Feed ration

The feed ration fed at the feeding table may affect the start-up both in a positive and negative way. Success or lack of success is dependent to a great extent on the feeding. Animal traffic only plays a minor role in this. It is a good idea to feed a significantly reduced ration at the feeding table to motivate the animals to move. If the concentration of energy in the trough ration is too high, the number of voluntary visits for milking will not reach the desired level in the initial days.

3. Timing

Consider placing the beginning of the start-up at the beginning of a week. Thus, a part of the main work can be completed by the weekend, and the cows will already have become accustomed to the new situation to a certain extent. Please avoid a start-up directly before major public holidays (Easter, Christmas), harvesting or the preparation of silage.

4. Personnel requirements

The first 4-5 days after start-up are the ones which require most work. Therefore, they require a large number of personnel. The personnel requirements for the days of the start-up must be calculated at an early stage. How much this amounts to exactly varies from farm to farm. 1.5-2 people per box should be planned for the first two milking sessions for the guiding of the animals to the MIone and the monitoring of the milking. The farm manager and all those who will work with the MIone in the future should not act as “cow drivers” but should supervise the milking procedure in the pit in front of the MIone and have this explained to them by the attending technician. Depending on the animals’ behavior and their acceptance of the system, the need for helpers may be reduced in the following days. It is nevertheless better to schedule a comfortable cushion of helpers. A start-up with too few helpers generates stress for both humans and animals. All people involved should be aware of their task, areas of responsibility and also of their expectations. This should be discussed in advance. The personnel requirement can be calculated with the aid of an exact working schedule. In an emergency, further additional helpers should also be available.


Schedule and approximate personnel requirements for the start-up of a 3-box system:

Day 1 in the evening

MIone Driving in the cows Reserve Total

Day 2 in the morning






2 4 2 8

2 4 2 8

2 4 1 7

1 3 1 5

1 3 1 5

1 3 1 5

1 2 1 4

The moment of truth: The first milking

Finally, the waiting has come to an end. Now it can be seen whether the preparation and planning of the last weeks have been successful, and if you have already assimilated to the new form of herd management. To en-sure that the process and system are optimized as soon as possible, an experienced member of our service staff will assist you during the initial days. It is his task to show you, and/or your workers, the correct use and process-es, and to assist you with questions and problems. If desired, he will pass his knowledge on to you and your personnel in customised training sessions. At the end of start-up, you and your specialist will discuss what things are working well and where improvements can be made. If necessary, follow-up trainings will be planned. All building work must have been completed by this point in time at the latest.


Day 1

In the morning the cows are milked for the last time in the old milking parlor. After this, they should have time until the first MIone milking in the afternoon to become accustomed to the new environment.As soon as everything is ready, a number of your helpers drive the cows into the milking boxes. When doing this the drivers should pay attention to ensuring a calm treatment of the animals and a procedure that is as stress-free as possible so that the cows do not regard the milking robot as being a negative experience. The number of future visits could thus significantly reduce. Temporary gates help to gently guide the cows into the MIone. You and your workers who are responsible for the MIone are positioned behind the robot and attach the teat cup clusters by hand. This not only makes the cows more comfortable, at the same time the appropriate box length and stomach height can be determined and stored in the program.In order to keep the stress for the animals as low as possible the barn and the herd are divided. While group 1 is being milked, the other animals are free to move in the second half of the barn and have access to water, feed and cubicles. Once group 1 is completely milked, group 2 is driven into the waiting room.

Figure 1: Group 1 is driven by the milking process from the resting area into the feeding area.Group 2 has free access to both areas.

Day 2

The timing of the morning milking session depends on the duration of the milking process on the previous day. It is important for the cows that there are no more than 12 hours between the milking sessions. As the cows will not normally go alone to the MIone, a number of drivers will once more be needed in the barn. The aim of this milking should be that almost all the cows will have been automatically attached by now. Particularly in this first stage of milking it is important to train the cows to promptly leave the box. However, please avoid generating stress. Your responsible member of the service staff will show you the correct procedure with the RDM screen on the MIone during the milking process. Following the milking session, the area arounthe robot is cleaned. Even when milking in the afternoon, all cows should be automatically attached if possible.



Day 3

On this morning all cows will be driven to the MIone one last time. Only individual cows whose last milking was longer than 10 hours ago will be driven in again in the afternoon. For this the lists from the RDM and in the herd management PC can be used.

Days 4 and 5

From the fourth day onwards the majority of the cows should have become accustomed to the independent cow traffic and the selection gates so that only individual animals have to be driven to the MIone. The robot sys-tem is checked again and the situation both in the barn and in the herd is estimated and evaluated. In addition, the new routines are discussed with the member of the service staff and questions answered.

Weekend

Based on experience, the herd has generally settled down by the weekend and has become accustomed to au-tomatic milking. Apart from very few individual animals which still have to be driven through the selection gates or to the MIone, the areas of work are already simply restricted to the daily routine tasks. Nevertheless, should unexpected problems occur, you can always reach a specialist on the 24/7 hotline.

So what does it come down to?

• No stressDuring the start-up phase, make sure that the least amount of stress and disturbance is passed onto the cows. It is important that your animals interpret the milking process in the MIone as a positive event which they are happy to experience again.

• A little varietySome cows still do not always seek out the MIone of their own free will. In order to avoid a routine for such animals being established, please avoid always driving these cows at the same time to the MIone.

• Have patienceBe prepared that milking with the MIone takes longer in the initial period than in a conventional system. Please remain patient, and give your cows sufficient time to become accustomed to the new procedures.


Further optimization after start-up

In the initial days after start-up, the responsible service technician will be happy to answer any questions you may have. At this point, he can also explain to you the process of automatic milk sampling.

Online maintenance as an option for deeper insights into the system performance

FarmView provides a current, detailed listing of the performance of your MIone system. RemoteControl enables the GEA specialists to log directly into your system. Through the online monitoring of the milking processes right up to the switching of individual valves, variations in performance can be detected at an early stage, and thus, repairs converted into proactive service. Timely intervention reduces cost and prevents downtime.


Correct feeding: A really tasty feed for your cows

After the initial days have been weathered, the Farm Manager and feed adviser should meet to check the feeding and adjust it where necessary. Feeding is generally more moderate during start-up in order to motivate the cows to move. Therefore, any changes in feeding must be discussed in detail and checked in order to blend it into the strategy which was determined in advance.A fixed amount of feed is dispensed in the initial days until the average volumes of milk are available in DairyPlan. As an option, and in consultation with your feed adviser, an automatic dispensing of concentrated feed can then be set. In the course of this, you will be introduced to all the tools and lists which exist in DairyPlan so that you can check the feed dispensing yourself.


Small maintenance jobs – A question of know-how!

In the event that no discussions have taken place in advance about the procedure for small maintenance jobs which can be carried out by yourself (e. g. the changing of the liners), a technician should assist you for the first time. Thus, problems can be defined on the spot and discussed.

Last but not least

In the weeks following start-up, the events and tendencies will be evaluated and, if necessary, changes deter-mined based upon this information. In addition, it is checked again whether the feeding strategy for the work with the milking robot has been appropriately chosen, or whether changes must be made in the ration or provision. For this, we recommend once more that you involve your feed adviser.When the second milk inspection has taken place, the results are discussed in a concluding meeting. For this, please invite your feed adviser to attend so that you can further optimize the harmonization of your feeding and management.


Service

The best possible advice even after the sale and start-up with GEA Service

With a comprehensive dealer network, which is one of the largest in existence, GEA is able to ensure quick, competent service round the clock all over the world.The regular maintenance of the entire system takes place after a given number of operating hours have been completed. In addition, further care is individually tailored to suit your farm and your needs – we offer you con-tracts with a varying scope of services.

However, most of the small repairs can be carried out by you. In the beginning, your responsible service technician will provide assistance. If technical prob-lems occur, you have the possibility to attempt to solve these alone with the aid of our 24/7 hotline. If a solution is not found, our well-trained technician will support you on site.

In order to guarantee smooth working of the sys-tem, GEA Farm Technologies will provide you with top-quality cleaning and disinfection agents, dips, filters and liners for daily use which are perfectly custom-made for your MIone and management strategy. Your service specialist can assist you in ensuring that you have sufficient stock of these products at all times.


Your personal success story

A productive pleasure

You have dared to take the step towards a major change in daily life on your farm and in your barn – one which you will not regret with the MIone.With GEA, you have decided on top-class automatic milking. You can rely on the proven performance and sustainability of the MIone. You can expect greater freedom in time management, and new possibilities for developing your herd and farm - look forward to your newly gained flexibility and write your own personal success story!

9997

-196

3-00

0 / P

SC 1

0010

5020

0 / 9

5020

2019

9 / S

+L:

d&

d / D

: blö

/ 10

. 201

4W

e re

serv

e th

e rig

ht t

o m

odify

the

con

stru

ctio

n an

d de

sign

in a

ll ca

ses!

GEA Farm Technologies GmbH

Siemensstraße 25 - 27, D-59199 BönenTel. +49 (0) 23 83 93 7-0, Fax +49 (0) 23 83 93 8-0www.gea.com | www.gea-farmtechnologies.com

GEA Group is a global engineering company with multi-billion euro sales and operations in more than 50 countries. Founded in 1881, the company is one of the largest providers of innovative equipment and process technology. GEA Group is listed in the STOXX® Europe 600 index.

We live our values.Excellence • Passion • Integrity • Responsibility • GEA-versity

Documents

Dairyfarming mione guidebook 2014 brochure en 0315 tcm30 21607