Christina Umstätter - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Christina Umstätter
Journal of Dairy Science
Time series analysis can facilitate the detection of complex behavioral patterns and potentially ... more Time series analysis can facilitate the detection of complex behavioral patterns and potentially provide new opportunities to assess animal welfare. The aim was to investigate whether dairy cows exhibit daily, individual patterns in activity and in area use in the barn. We predicted that behavioral patterns will be more consistent (1) within than between cows, (2) when area categorization is more specific and, thus, allows the detection of individual preferences for areas, and (3) during the night. We conducted the study at an experimental farm with 20 lactating Brown Swiss and Swiss Fleckvieh cows. The animals were housed in cubicles, and they received feed and were milked twice daily. Activity was recorded with IceTag pedometers (IceRobotics Ltd.), and area use with the SMARTBOW sensor system (Zoetis). Data were collected for 55 consecutive days and analyzed at 1-min intervals. To investigate the behavioral time series, we performed a hierarchical clustering analysis. A clustering process calculated distances between days, which were compared within and between cows based on t-tests and analyses of variance. Dendrograms of activity and area use showed that days of individual cows could not be grouped more closely together than those of different cows. A slightly better grouping was achieved with a more specific area categorization, but not during a specific time period. However, the average distances between days were always smaller within (mean ± SD; activity: 95.62 ± 76.88, lying areas: 0.14 ± 0.03, functional areas: 0.12 ± 0.01) than between cows (activity: 109.62 ± 75.33, lying areas: 0.16 ± 0.02, functional areas 0.13 ± 0.01). Considering that the time series of individual cows were slightly but always more similar compared with those between cows, and that more consistent patterns were found when the area categorization was more specific, it can be concluded that the cows exhibited weak individual preferences in area use and also weak daily individual patterns in activity and area use. Because the visual exploratory and empirical approaches used in this study do not account for variability, they do not seem to be suitable for the detection of patterns in animals that display greater plasticity in their temporal structure of activity. Thus, although determining the temporal structure of activity and area use bears the potential to assess the behavior and, in turn, for example, the physiological state and health status of cows, it does not seem to be achievable with a cluster analysis. Therefore, time series methods that account for temporal fluctuations in behavior should be further explored.
Journal of Dairy Science
Drying-off practices to reduce milk production before dry-off are gaining attention because high ... more Drying-off practices to reduce milk production before dry-off are gaining attention because high milk yields at dry-off are becoming more common and increase the risk to cow health and welfare during the dry period. Incomplete milking for the last days before dry-off is one approach for reducing milk production. We conducted an online survey to determine the currently used drying-off practices on Swiss dairy farms and to identify the adoption potential of integrating incomplete milking before dry-off. In March 2021, the online survey was sent to a representative sample of 1,974 Swiss dairy farmers. A total of 518 completed questionnaires were analyzed. The mean number of dairy cows per farm was 39 (range: 11-140 cows). Thirty-five percent of cows produced considerable quantities of milk (>15 kg/d) at dry-off, and milk yield at dry-off increased with increasing annual milk yield. Abrupt dry-off was applied on 45% of the farms. The participants reported observing behavioral changes of cows such as increased vocalizations and decreased lying time associated with dry-off. Selective dry cow therapy was applied on 74% of the farms, and 44% of the participants indicated the use of antibiotics at dry-off as being "rather often," "often," or "always." Correlation analysis revealed that with increasing annual milk yields, the frequency of observed behavioral changes and antibiotic use at dry-off increased as well. Therefore, drying-off approaches that reduce milk production while supporting cow welfare are needed. We found that farmers showed an interest in testing the presented drying-off approach of incomplete milking. In addition, the farmers indicated that they would be more willing to test incomplete milking before dry-off if it became available for automated use in milking parlors or robots. Uncertainties regarding udder health appeared to be the main barrier for the adoption potential of this approach.
Frontiers in Animal Science, 2022
Ultra- and circadian activity rhythms of animals can provide important insights into animal welfa... more Ultra- and circadian activity rhythms of animals can provide important insights into animal welfare. The consistency of behavioral patterns is characteristic of healthy organisms, while changes in the regularity of behavioral rhythms may indicate health and stress-related challenges. This pilot study aimed to examine whether dairy cows in free-stall barns with an automatic milking system (AMS) and free cow traffic can develop ultra- and circadian activity rhythms. On 4 dairy farms, pedometers recorded the activity of 10 cows each over 28 days. Based on time series calculation, the Degree of Functional Coupling (DFC) was used to determine the cows' activity rhythms. The DFC identified significant rhythmic patterns in sliding 7-day periods and indicated the percentage of activity (0–100%) that was synchronized with the 24-h day-night rhythm. As light is the main factor influencing the sleep-wake cycle of organisms, light intensity was recorded in the AMS, at the feed alley and in ...
Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 2022
Precision Agriculture, 2022
Digital technologies are a promising means to tackle the increasing global challenges (e.g., clim... more Digital technologies are a promising means to tackle the increasing global challenges (e.g., climate change, water pollution, soil degradation) and revolutionising agricultural production. The current research used a two-stage Delphi study with 34 experts from various domains, including production, advisory and research, to identify the key drivers and barriers, the most promising technologies and possible measures to support technology adoption in Swiss outdoor vegetable production. Combining these experts’ views, the method provides realistic scenarios for future development. In Round 1, open-ended questions were used to collect the experts’ opinions. These were then transformed into closed-ended questions for Round 2, where controlled feedback was provided to the experts. Twenty-six experts participated in both rounds, resulting in an overall response rate that was comparably high (76%). It was found that economic factors were important drivers and barriers in technology adoption...
Figure 1SP shows the PRISMA flow diagram with an adapted order, in which the literature screening... more Figure 1SP shows the PRISMA flow diagram with an adapted order, in which the literature screening and selection are depicted. Table 1SP shows the list of the protocol of the systematic literature search and Table 2SP shows the studies, which have been used for synthesis
The early detection of health disorders is a central goal in livestock production. Thus, a great ... more The early detection of health disorders is a central goal in livestock production. Thus, a great demand for technologies enabling the automated detection of such issues exists. However, despite decades of research, precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies with sufficient accuracy and ready for implementation on commercial farms are rare. A central factor impeding technological development is likely the use of non-specific indicators for various issues. On commercial farms, where animals are exposed to changing environmental conditions, where they undergo different internal states and, most importantly, where they can be challenged by more than one issue at a time, such an approach leads inevitably to errors. To improve the accuracy of PLF technologies, the presented framework proposes a categorization of the aim of detection of issues related to general welfare, disease and distress and defined disease. Each decision level provides a different degree of information and therefo...
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 2021
Administrative burdens are transaction costs due to administrative activities conducted solely be... more Administrative burdens are transaction costs due to administrative activities conducted solely because of regulation requirements. Since the shift from market support to cross-compliance-based direct payments, farmers increasingly complain about substantial administrative burdens related to the direct payment scheme. Using data from a survey among 100 Swiss farmers, group comparisons and regression analyses revealed significant differences in working time requirements to meet cross-compliance information obligations across farm types. Dairy producers need significantly more working time than crop producers. The age and education of farmers were not found to affect time requirements. Applying the standard cost model, administrative burdens for all Swiss farmers were estimated to be 136 Mio CHF in 2018 and about 5% of the budget spent on direct payments was needed to cover these costs. Policy measures to reduce administrative burdens should focus on specialized dairy producers, which contribute 37% to the sectoral costs.
In rangeland and mountain areas it can be difficult and labour intensive to find livestock in ord... more In rangeland and mountain areas it can be difficult and labour intensive to find livestock in order to check health and welfare. In addition, wild predators can be counted as substantial thread to the livelihood of farmers and to animal welfare. Modern technology can support stock personnel by tracking animals to decrease labour costs and ensure animal welfare. However, one major limitation is the energy demand of these systems. In a pilot study, we were testing a new low cost radio technology with minimal energy requirements and large range. A GPS tracking device was integrated into collar. Every 30 mins the position of the animal can be send through “LoRa” (Long Range, Chirp Spread Spectrum Technology from Semtech Cooperation) Ten collars were deployed in a first pilot study in the Alps on eight sheep, one donkey and a livestock guardian dog. A reception sensitivity above -144 dBm could be reached with the chosen modulation parameters. The propagation simulation, including the mountainous topography in the area of the animals’ home range, predicted an adequate coverage. Therefore, 90% of the position massages were transmitted successfully. In future, data of the integrated 3-D-accelerometers can be used to identify unusual behaviour of the animals for predictive healthcare, estrous detection or alert stock personnel in case a wild predator attack is taking place
Landtechnik, 2020
Mit der fortschreitenden Digitalisierung der Gesellschaft im Allgemeinen und der Landwirtschaft i... more Mit der fortschreitenden Digitalisierung der Gesellschaft im Allgemeinen und der Landwirtschaft im Besonderen gewinnt auch das digitale Monitoring in der Nutztierhaltung zunehmend an Bedeutung. Seit der Einfuhrung der ersten automatisierten Systeme in den 1980er-Jahren wurden verschiedene Ansatze des Monitorings entwickelt. Die Anwendung und Verbreitung solcher Systeme ist allerdings unterschiedlich und Neuerungen setzen sich oft nur langsam durch. Naturlich bergen alle Neuerungen sowohl Risiken als auch Chancen. Wir fassen in diesem Artikel die von den Akteuren erwartete kunftige Entwicklung zusammen und stutzen uns dabei auf die Informationen, die bei Diskussionen in Fokusgruppen gesammelt wurden. Dazu wurde fur die Akteure ein Workshop zum Thema Tiermonitoring und Digitalisierung in der Nutztierhaltung organisiert (KTBL-Fachgesprach), der im November 2017 in Kassel mit 30 eingeladenen Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern aus verschiedenen Interessengruppen stattfand.Es wurden vier Sch...
Agrarforschung Schweiz, 2020
Les technologies numeriques reduisent la charge de travail physique dans l’agriculture et contrib... more Les technologies numeriques reduisent la charge de travail physique dans l’agriculture et contribuent a un mode d’exploitation respectueux des ressources. Sur la base de donnees relatives aux plantes ou aux sols, ces technologies permettent d’optimiser les decisions de gestion. Pour ce faire, elles doivent etre utilisees dans la pratique agricole.
Agrarforschung Schweiz, 2016
Agrarforschung Schweiz, 2016
Outre les enregistrements dans le domaine de la gestion de l’exploitation et de la planification,... more Outre les enregistrements dans le domaine de la gestion de l’exploitation et de la planification, les agriculteurs et agricultrices sont aujourd‘hui tenus – autant a des fins statistiques que pour beneficier des aides etatiques et des financements lies aux labels – d’enregistrer des donnees et de remplir des formulaires. Deux enquetes, realisees en 2012 et 2015 aupres de 26 exploitations agricoles suisses actives dans differentes branches de production, ont montre que le temps consacre aux tâches administratives variait considerablement, mais qu’il avait eu tendance a augmenter de 2012 a 2015. Les nombreux commentaires personnels ont indique que le theme de la charge administrative revetait une haute importance pour les agriculteurs et que nombreux etaient ceux qui souhaitaient reduire cette charge. Les resultats ont permis de degager quatre approches d’optimisation: 1. Systeme expert mobile (App) pour mettre a disposition les formulaires actualises a l’echelle de l’exploitation et ...
Agrarforschung Schweiz, 2016
Journal of Dairy Science, 2021
The optimal milking cluster should milk as gently as possible to minimize the mechanical effect o... more The optimal milking cluster should milk as gently as possible to minimize the mechanical effect on the teat tissue at an optimal milking performance and milk quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of liner shape (round vs. triangular) and type of cluster ventilation (claw vs. mouthpiece chamber; MPC) on milking performance and vacuum at the teat end and in the MPC. Our hypothesis was that liner shape and cluster ventilation affect milking performance and MPC vacuum. Six Holstein Friesian cows were milked twice daily over 12 d with a bucket milker, using 4 different cluster types that combined liner shape and type of cluster ventilation at 3 different system vacuum settings (35, 42, and 50 kPa) in an incomplete randomized block design. Milk flow and vacuum in the MPC, at the teat end (measured in the short milk tube), and in the short pulse tube were continuously recorded during milking. Milk flow was higher, and hence main milking time was shorter, with the round than with the triangular liners. The MPC vacuum was lower in round than triangular liners, which was caused by higher air leakage between teat and liner barrel in the triangular liners. The MPC vacuum, as well as its cyclic fluctuations, increased at the end of milking (immediately before cluster detachment) in all cluster types, with the highest amplitude of fluctuation in the triangular liners with MPC ventilation. The MPC ventilation reduced the MPC vacuum in both liner types at the end of milking, and also in triangular liners during peak milk flow. Despite the observed differences of MPC vacuum, the ventilation type did not affect milking performance. However, milking with triangular MPC-ventilated liners caused an increased proportion of foamed milk, which could potentially have a negative effect on milk quality.
Precision Agriculture, 2020
This paper presents the state of application of Precision Agricultural enabling Technology (PAT) ... more This paper presents the state of application of Precision Agricultural enabling Technology (PAT) in Swiss farms as an example for small-scale, highly mechanised Central European agriculture. Furthermore, correlations between farm and farmers’ characteristics and technology adoption were evaluated. Being part of a comprehensive and representative study assessing the state of mechanisation and automation in Swiss agriculture, this paper focuses on the adoption of Driver Assistance Systems (DAS) and activities in which Electronic Measuring Systems (EMS) are used. The adoption rate of DAS was markedly higher compared to EMS in all agricultural enterprises. The adoption rate was highest for high-value enterprise vegetables and surprisingly low for the high-value enterprise grapes. The results of a binary logistic regression showed that farmers located in the mountain zone were less likely to adopt PAT compared to farmers in the valley. Small farm size correlated with low adoption rates a...
Journal of Dairy Science
Time series analysis can facilitate the detection of complex behavioral patterns and potentially ... more Time series analysis can facilitate the detection of complex behavioral patterns and potentially provide new opportunities to assess animal welfare. The aim was to investigate whether dairy cows exhibit daily, individual patterns in activity and in area use in the barn. We predicted that behavioral patterns will be more consistent (1) within than between cows, (2) when area categorization is more specific and, thus, allows the detection of individual preferences for areas, and (3) during the night. We conducted the study at an experimental farm with 20 lactating Brown Swiss and Swiss Fleckvieh cows. The animals were housed in cubicles, and they received feed and were milked twice daily. Activity was recorded with IceTag pedometers (IceRobotics Ltd.), and area use with the SMARTBOW sensor system (Zoetis). Data were collected for 55 consecutive days and analyzed at 1-min intervals. To investigate the behavioral time series, we performed a hierarchical clustering analysis. A clustering process calculated distances between days, which were compared within and between cows based on t-tests and analyses of variance. Dendrograms of activity and area use showed that days of individual cows could not be grouped more closely together than those of different cows. A slightly better grouping was achieved with a more specific area categorization, but not during a specific time period. However, the average distances between days were always smaller within (mean ± SD; activity: 95.62 ± 76.88, lying areas: 0.14 ± 0.03, functional areas: 0.12 ± 0.01) than between cows (activity: 109.62 ± 75.33, lying areas: 0.16 ± 0.02, functional areas 0.13 ± 0.01). Considering that the time series of individual cows were slightly but always more similar compared with those between cows, and that more consistent patterns were found when the area categorization was more specific, it can be concluded that the cows exhibited weak individual preferences in area use and also weak daily individual patterns in activity and area use. Because the visual exploratory and empirical approaches used in this study do not account for variability, they do not seem to be suitable for the detection of patterns in animals that display greater plasticity in their temporal structure of activity. Thus, although determining the temporal structure of activity and area use bears the potential to assess the behavior and, in turn, for example, the physiological state and health status of cows, it does not seem to be achievable with a cluster analysis. Therefore, time series methods that account for temporal fluctuations in behavior should be further explored.
Journal of Dairy Science
Drying-off practices to reduce milk production before dry-off are gaining attention because high ... more Drying-off practices to reduce milk production before dry-off are gaining attention because high milk yields at dry-off are becoming more common and increase the risk to cow health and welfare during the dry period. Incomplete milking for the last days before dry-off is one approach for reducing milk production. We conducted an online survey to determine the currently used drying-off practices on Swiss dairy farms and to identify the adoption potential of integrating incomplete milking before dry-off. In March 2021, the online survey was sent to a representative sample of 1,974 Swiss dairy farmers. A total of 518 completed questionnaires were analyzed. The mean number of dairy cows per farm was 39 (range: 11-140 cows). Thirty-five percent of cows produced considerable quantities of milk (>15 kg/d) at dry-off, and milk yield at dry-off increased with increasing annual milk yield. Abrupt dry-off was applied on 45% of the farms. The participants reported observing behavioral changes of cows such as increased vocalizations and decreased lying time associated with dry-off. Selective dry cow therapy was applied on 74% of the farms, and 44% of the participants indicated the use of antibiotics at dry-off as being "rather often," "often," or "always." Correlation analysis revealed that with increasing annual milk yields, the frequency of observed behavioral changes and antibiotic use at dry-off increased as well. Therefore, drying-off approaches that reduce milk production while supporting cow welfare are needed. We found that farmers showed an interest in testing the presented drying-off approach of incomplete milking. In addition, the farmers indicated that they would be more willing to test incomplete milking before dry-off if it became available for automated use in milking parlors or robots. Uncertainties regarding udder health appeared to be the main barrier for the adoption potential of this approach.
Frontiers in Animal Science, 2022
Ultra- and circadian activity rhythms of animals can provide important insights into animal welfa... more Ultra- and circadian activity rhythms of animals can provide important insights into animal welfare. The consistency of behavioral patterns is characteristic of healthy organisms, while changes in the regularity of behavioral rhythms may indicate health and stress-related challenges. This pilot study aimed to examine whether dairy cows in free-stall barns with an automatic milking system (AMS) and free cow traffic can develop ultra- and circadian activity rhythms. On 4 dairy farms, pedometers recorded the activity of 10 cows each over 28 days. Based on time series calculation, the Degree of Functional Coupling (DFC) was used to determine the cows' activity rhythms. The DFC identified significant rhythmic patterns in sliding 7-day periods and indicated the percentage of activity (0–100%) that was synchronized with the 24-h day-night rhythm. As light is the main factor influencing the sleep-wake cycle of organisms, light intensity was recorded in the AMS, at the feed alley and in ...
Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 2022
Precision Agriculture, 2022
Digital technologies are a promising means to tackle the increasing global challenges (e.g., clim... more Digital technologies are a promising means to tackle the increasing global challenges (e.g., climate change, water pollution, soil degradation) and revolutionising agricultural production. The current research used a two-stage Delphi study with 34 experts from various domains, including production, advisory and research, to identify the key drivers and barriers, the most promising technologies and possible measures to support technology adoption in Swiss outdoor vegetable production. Combining these experts’ views, the method provides realistic scenarios for future development. In Round 1, open-ended questions were used to collect the experts’ opinions. These were then transformed into closed-ended questions for Round 2, where controlled feedback was provided to the experts. Twenty-six experts participated in both rounds, resulting in an overall response rate that was comparably high (76%). It was found that economic factors were important drivers and barriers in technology adoption...
Figure 1SP shows the PRISMA flow diagram with an adapted order, in which the literature screening... more Figure 1SP shows the PRISMA flow diagram with an adapted order, in which the literature screening and selection are depicted. Table 1SP shows the list of the protocol of the systematic literature search and Table 2SP shows the studies, which have been used for synthesis
The early detection of health disorders is a central goal in livestock production. Thus, a great ... more The early detection of health disorders is a central goal in livestock production. Thus, a great demand for technologies enabling the automated detection of such issues exists. However, despite decades of research, precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies with sufficient accuracy and ready for implementation on commercial farms are rare. A central factor impeding technological development is likely the use of non-specific indicators for various issues. On commercial farms, where animals are exposed to changing environmental conditions, where they undergo different internal states and, most importantly, where they can be challenged by more than one issue at a time, such an approach leads inevitably to errors. To improve the accuracy of PLF technologies, the presented framework proposes a categorization of the aim of detection of issues related to general welfare, disease and distress and defined disease. Each decision level provides a different degree of information and therefo...
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 2021
Administrative burdens are transaction costs due to administrative activities conducted solely be... more Administrative burdens are transaction costs due to administrative activities conducted solely because of regulation requirements. Since the shift from market support to cross-compliance-based direct payments, farmers increasingly complain about substantial administrative burdens related to the direct payment scheme. Using data from a survey among 100 Swiss farmers, group comparisons and regression analyses revealed significant differences in working time requirements to meet cross-compliance information obligations across farm types. Dairy producers need significantly more working time than crop producers. The age and education of farmers were not found to affect time requirements. Applying the standard cost model, administrative burdens for all Swiss farmers were estimated to be 136 Mio CHF in 2018 and about 5% of the budget spent on direct payments was needed to cover these costs. Policy measures to reduce administrative burdens should focus on specialized dairy producers, which contribute 37% to the sectoral costs.
In rangeland and mountain areas it can be difficult and labour intensive to find livestock in ord... more In rangeland and mountain areas it can be difficult and labour intensive to find livestock in order to check health and welfare. In addition, wild predators can be counted as substantial thread to the livelihood of farmers and to animal welfare. Modern technology can support stock personnel by tracking animals to decrease labour costs and ensure animal welfare. However, one major limitation is the energy demand of these systems. In a pilot study, we were testing a new low cost radio technology with minimal energy requirements and large range. A GPS tracking device was integrated into collar. Every 30 mins the position of the animal can be send through “LoRa” (Long Range, Chirp Spread Spectrum Technology from Semtech Cooperation) Ten collars were deployed in a first pilot study in the Alps on eight sheep, one donkey and a livestock guardian dog. A reception sensitivity above -144 dBm could be reached with the chosen modulation parameters. The propagation simulation, including the mountainous topography in the area of the animals’ home range, predicted an adequate coverage. Therefore, 90% of the position massages were transmitted successfully. In future, data of the integrated 3-D-accelerometers can be used to identify unusual behaviour of the animals for predictive healthcare, estrous detection or alert stock personnel in case a wild predator attack is taking place
Landtechnik, 2020
Mit der fortschreitenden Digitalisierung der Gesellschaft im Allgemeinen und der Landwirtschaft i... more Mit der fortschreitenden Digitalisierung der Gesellschaft im Allgemeinen und der Landwirtschaft im Besonderen gewinnt auch das digitale Monitoring in der Nutztierhaltung zunehmend an Bedeutung. Seit der Einfuhrung der ersten automatisierten Systeme in den 1980er-Jahren wurden verschiedene Ansatze des Monitorings entwickelt. Die Anwendung und Verbreitung solcher Systeme ist allerdings unterschiedlich und Neuerungen setzen sich oft nur langsam durch. Naturlich bergen alle Neuerungen sowohl Risiken als auch Chancen. Wir fassen in diesem Artikel die von den Akteuren erwartete kunftige Entwicklung zusammen und stutzen uns dabei auf die Informationen, die bei Diskussionen in Fokusgruppen gesammelt wurden. Dazu wurde fur die Akteure ein Workshop zum Thema Tiermonitoring und Digitalisierung in der Nutztierhaltung organisiert (KTBL-Fachgesprach), der im November 2017 in Kassel mit 30 eingeladenen Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern aus verschiedenen Interessengruppen stattfand.Es wurden vier Sch...
Agrarforschung Schweiz, 2020
Les technologies numeriques reduisent la charge de travail physique dans l’agriculture et contrib... more Les technologies numeriques reduisent la charge de travail physique dans l’agriculture et contribuent a un mode d’exploitation respectueux des ressources. Sur la base de donnees relatives aux plantes ou aux sols, ces technologies permettent d’optimiser les decisions de gestion. Pour ce faire, elles doivent etre utilisees dans la pratique agricole.
Agrarforschung Schweiz, 2016
Agrarforschung Schweiz, 2016
Outre les enregistrements dans le domaine de la gestion de l’exploitation et de la planification,... more Outre les enregistrements dans le domaine de la gestion de l’exploitation et de la planification, les agriculteurs et agricultrices sont aujourd‘hui tenus – autant a des fins statistiques que pour beneficier des aides etatiques et des financements lies aux labels – d’enregistrer des donnees et de remplir des formulaires. Deux enquetes, realisees en 2012 et 2015 aupres de 26 exploitations agricoles suisses actives dans differentes branches de production, ont montre que le temps consacre aux tâches administratives variait considerablement, mais qu’il avait eu tendance a augmenter de 2012 a 2015. Les nombreux commentaires personnels ont indique que le theme de la charge administrative revetait une haute importance pour les agriculteurs et que nombreux etaient ceux qui souhaitaient reduire cette charge. Les resultats ont permis de degager quatre approches d’optimisation: 1. Systeme expert mobile (App) pour mettre a disposition les formulaires actualises a l’echelle de l’exploitation et ...
Agrarforschung Schweiz, 2016
Journal of Dairy Science, 2021
The optimal milking cluster should milk as gently as possible to minimize the mechanical effect o... more The optimal milking cluster should milk as gently as possible to minimize the mechanical effect on the teat tissue at an optimal milking performance and milk quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of liner shape (round vs. triangular) and type of cluster ventilation (claw vs. mouthpiece chamber; MPC) on milking performance and vacuum at the teat end and in the MPC. Our hypothesis was that liner shape and cluster ventilation affect milking performance and MPC vacuum. Six Holstein Friesian cows were milked twice daily over 12 d with a bucket milker, using 4 different cluster types that combined liner shape and type of cluster ventilation at 3 different system vacuum settings (35, 42, and 50 kPa) in an incomplete randomized block design. Milk flow and vacuum in the MPC, at the teat end (measured in the short milk tube), and in the short pulse tube were continuously recorded during milking. Milk flow was higher, and hence main milking time was shorter, with the round than with the triangular liners. The MPC vacuum was lower in round than triangular liners, which was caused by higher air leakage between teat and liner barrel in the triangular liners. The MPC vacuum, as well as its cyclic fluctuations, increased at the end of milking (immediately before cluster detachment) in all cluster types, with the highest amplitude of fluctuation in the triangular liners with MPC ventilation. The MPC ventilation reduced the MPC vacuum in both liner types at the end of milking, and also in triangular liners during peak milk flow. Despite the observed differences of MPC vacuum, the ventilation type did not affect milking performance. However, milking with triangular MPC-ventilated liners caused an increased proportion of foamed milk, which could potentially have a negative effect on milk quality.
Precision Agriculture, 2020
This paper presents the state of application of Precision Agricultural enabling Technology (PAT) ... more This paper presents the state of application of Precision Agricultural enabling Technology (PAT) in Swiss farms as an example for small-scale, highly mechanised Central European agriculture. Furthermore, correlations between farm and farmers’ characteristics and technology adoption were evaluated. Being part of a comprehensive and representative study assessing the state of mechanisation and automation in Swiss agriculture, this paper focuses on the adoption of Driver Assistance Systems (DAS) and activities in which Electronic Measuring Systems (EMS) are used. The adoption rate of DAS was markedly higher compared to EMS in all agricultural enterprises. The adoption rate was highest for high-value enterprise vegetables and surprisingly low for the high-value enterprise grapes. The results of a binary logistic regression showed that farmers located in the mountain zone were less likely to adopt PAT compared to farmers in the valley. Small farm size correlated with low adoption rates a...