 The �60,000 machines have replaced the mechanical version |
A dairy farmer has taught his herd of cattle to milk themselves with an automated system. Tim Gibson said that production on his North Yorkshire farm has shot up by 20% since he installed two robotic milking machines.
The �60,000 hi-tech machines automatically feed the cattle, clean their udders and latch on the suction cups using a computer guidance system.
Mr Gibson, 23, of Crakehall, near Bedale said: "It took a while for them to get used to it but they are fine now."
 It's like going to the toilet for them  |
Normally cows are milked twice a day, once in the morning and again in the early evening.
Mr Gibson said the 130-strong herd visited the machines on average seven times a day, although their milk is normally taken on just three occasions.
He said: "Cows want to be milked all the time. It's like going to the toilet for them.
"It is unnatural for them to store it up, so this allows them to come in and be milked when they want.
"It is a very efficient way to run the farm. The machines have given me far more time to do other things.
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