What is the MilkBot™

Milk production over time (the lactation curve) is both a reflection of the health of a lactating cow, and the most important economic measure of her performance. MilkBot^™ is a tool to quantify both the shape and the magnitude of lactation curves in a consistent and repeatable way. These fitted curves, and the parameter values which define them, provide a quantitative measure of essential differences which exist between individual lactations. There are thousands of potential uses both in research and in monitoring performance of commercial herds.

Consider the two quite similar lactations shown below. These show typical real data from a commercial herd.

On the graphs above, black dots are weekly average milk weights. The curve is fitted and drawn by MilkBot^™, as are the summary data printed on the upper right corner of each graph. Although daily milk production of these two cows is similar, ranging from about 50 to 90 pounds per day, there is a difference in the shape of the two lactation curves. The lactation on the left (7831) is a flatter curve, rising more slowly in early lactation and also dropping more slowly at the end. MilkBot^™ summarizes this difference in shape as 7831 having a later peak day (106 vs 65 days) and higher persistence (561 vs. 315 days). Notice that the standard error for both fitted curves is quite low, about 4 pounds of milk per day. 305-day milk totals are also shown in the upper right. Quantifying subtle differences between lactations (like these) is what MilkBot^™ is all about.

In the Lactation at left, the computer has identified and highlighted a production anomaly (in blue). A significant additional advantage of the modeling techniques used by MilkBot™ is that there is a precise baseline from which a computer can identify variability and exceptions. Exceptions can be just as important as summary statistics.

From this Overview, you may wish to look at the model behind the computer method, or a detailed description of MilkBot^™ parameters. We discuss some possible uses of MilkBot^™ technology, and there is an interesting side discussion of the MilkBot^™ fitting engine. See our contact information, for more information on getting access to MilkBot^™ technology.