Auto-milking is reducing cow-grazing across EU

Automatic milking has reduced cow grazing on farms that have robot milkers, across Europe.

It is envisaged that up to 20% of cows in Europe will be milked automatically by 2020, and the accompanying decrease in cow grazing is an undesirable trend, say Teagasc researchers at Moorepark, who are studying use of the machines.

They say grass-based systems of animal production are increasingly competitive, have a positive impact on milk quality, reduce the environmental footprint, and improve animal welfare.