Abstract
An automatic milking system (AMS) has the potential to milk cows when the cow chooses. However cows must attend the system at an appropriate frequency. The provision of food in the AMS is a robust, way of luring cows into the system. The system can be arranged such that the cows have to visit the AMS to access food in the exit area the other side. Here they can be fed forage or concentrate. It has been shown that feeding cows forage as a lure can result in modified forage feeding behaviour, and this may be to the detriment of the cows (Winter, 1993, Ketelaar-de-Lauwere, 1992). Feeding concentrate in the exit area may be an alternative design if the level of attendance generated is high enough. Cows can also be fed concentrate in the milking stall of the AMS. The aim of this experiment was to compare die effects of feeding forage or concentrate in the exit area and the effect of feeding or not feeding concentrate in the milking stall on attendances, and lying and feeding behaviour.
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