The farming industry has been a major focus throughout 2024, particularly post-budget, with protests taking place across the country and one Jeremy Clarkson stepping up to bat for the community he joined with the opening of Diddly Squat Farm in Chipping Norton.
Still, the agriculture sector continues to evolve, meaning training centres such as Hartpury University and College are needing to keep up with new trends and embrace new technologies — and the Gloucester educational facility has recently installed a robotic milking system that could revolutionise the dairy industry.
The state-of-the-art DeLaval Voluntary Milking System (VMS) V300 allows a cow to be milked whenever it wants, which can be up to three times a day on average, optimising animal welfare and providing valuable data for managing herd health and milk production.
The new technology reinforces Hartpury's commitment to combining commercial innovation in agriculture, whilst providing education and research opportunities for students.
Director of agriculture at Hartpury University, Professor Matt Bell, said: 'This cutting-edge technology not only enhances the efficiency of our operations but also gives students real-world experience — something that is so valuable within our industry.
'By equipping them with knowledge of the latest innovations, we are ensuring they are future-ready for careers in a rapidly evolving agricultural industry.'
Currently, 100 cows are part of the robotic milking herd at Hartpury and a further 100 are milked through a 30/30 rapid exit parlour.
The VMS operates through a series of advanced steps to ensure efficient and hygienic milking, from teat preparation and attachment, to the milking process and health monitoring, to post-milking and data management.
Agriculture students studying at T-Level, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD levels at Hartpury will have the chance to see the VMS in action and learn how to utilise data-driven insights to improve herd management and milk production practices.
