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Automatic milking reduces risk of injuries.
Everybody in today's dairy business knows that milking cows is a backbreaking job. In stall barn milking systems, constant stooping wears out farmers' knees and hip joints, which is probably the most important reason why dairy farmers hold the record for the number of knee and hip replacement surgeries. In milking parlours, the main stress is exerted on the lower back, wrists and forearms. Long shifts in parlours lead to repetitive motion ailments, including carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. Automatic milking systems could lower the rate of repetitive stress injuries and reduce the number of accidents on farms caused by operator fatigue. Unshackled from the milking routine, twice or three times a day, dairy farmers are sure to find more free time and a social life- scarce commodities on many family dairy farms.
From research conducted by the Animal Science Group of Wageningen UR into the health issue for milkers it has become clear that the risk of injuries is lower for users of automatic milking systems. In addition to this, researchers of the Swedish Agricultural University of Uppsala have reported that the use of a milking robot greatly reduces the risk of injuries through overburdening. The university researchers have conducted their study at eight dairy farms. Four of these farms had a tandem type milking parlour, whereas on the four remaining farms a milking robot had been installed. The upshot of the research was: on dairy farms with a milking robot, the risk of injuries sustained by the dairy farmer was 7 to 12 times lower.
All in all, the following conclusion seems to be fully justified: milking cows by means of a robot strongly reduces the risk of injuries and is therefore conducive to human health.