Scientific researches on the development of automated milking systems started in the late 70s of last century. Only 15 years later the first commercial robotic milker (robot) has appeared on the market. By the end of 2010 the world has had more than 17 thousand robots. Taking into account the growing popularity of automated milking and, accordingly, the rate of sales by the end of this year, their number in the world will be 20 thousand.

Currently, the most robotic country of the world is Europe. Initially, the robot milker was positioned as a solution for small farms: a robot was designed for 60-65 cows, that is for average European farm. Now the largest number of robot milkers are concentrated in Denmark, then Netherlands, Germany, France and Sweden. Usually the farms installed one or two robots and till 2009 a farm with four automated systems was considered as the largest, but recently the situation has changed dramatically. Three years ago in Denmark a farm, where eight robots with the prospect of increasing to twelve were established, began to operate. In summer, 2011 in Germany farm with 17 robots began to operate . Robots are also popular in Israel, but there are small farms there — 2-3 robots, with a maximum of 4-8.

The world's largest robotic farm — «Mason Dixon Farms» — is in the U.S., where 20 robots are involved in milking. In the U.S., robots are not as common as in Europe, large complexes for 2-5 thousand cows with milking parlours of industrial type (usually a «parallel») prevail there.

In Russia the first robots appeared in the Vologda region in 2007 and by the end of 2011 there should be ninety-five. They are establishet at the family farms and at large dairy complexes ( Rakhimov, Republic of Tatarstan, 16 robotic milkers on the same production site with four buildings, installation of an additional 16 robots is already planned).

The most robotized country in the former Soviet Union is Belarus, thereare more than 120 robots there.

Read the full version of the article in the magazine «Milk and Farm» № 4 (7), December 2011