TY - JOUR
T1 - Validation of simulation model for robotic milking barn design
AU - Halachmi, I.
AU - Dzidic, A.
AU - Metz, J. H.M.
AU - Speelman, L.
AU - Dijkhuizen, A. A.
AU - Kleijnen, J. P.C.
N1 - Funding Information:
We wish to thank Dr. Joe Sambrook for communicating the RNAcDNA cloning techniques before publication and Miss Suzanne Osterbrink for helpful assistance. This work was supported by Grant GM 22766 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Grant AI 09321 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, and Grant CA 00134 from the National Cancer Institute, the U. S. Public Health Service, the U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
PY - 2001/11/1
Y1 - 2001/11/1
N2 - As milking robots are a recent technological development, there are few precedents and little experience to draw upon when designing robotic milking barns. There is wide diversity among farms, so the optimal layout of the robotic milking barn (RMB) varies accordingly. Using a behaviour-based simulation model, the design focused on optimal facility allocation and its relation with feeding routine, herd size, management practices, etc. This paper applies validation study, compares data on real and simulated RMBs. Measurements from a real robotic farm with 10, 20, and 29 cows are compared with simulation data. The simulation model appears to be a valid, accurate representation of the real system, under commercially feasible conditions. This hypothesis is tested statistically and is not rejected at α=2.5%. So, the conclusion is that the model is a practical design tool, enabling the designer to optimise facility allocation and barn layout.
AB - As milking robots are a recent technological development, there are few precedents and little experience to draw upon when designing robotic milking barns. There is wide diversity among farms, so the optimal layout of the robotic milking barn (RMB) varies accordingly. Using a behaviour-based simulation model, the design focused on optimal facility allocation and its relation with feeding routine, herd size, management practices, etc. This paper applies validation study, compares data on real and simulated RMBs. Measurements from a real robotic farm with 10, 20, and 29 cows are compared with simulation data. The simulation model appears to be a valid, accurate representation of the real system, under commercially feasible conditions. This hypothesis is tested statistically and is not rejected at α=2.5%. So, the conclusion is that the model is a practical design tool, enabling the designer to optimise facility allocation and barn layout.
KW - Agricultural systems
KW - Cow
KW - Milking robot
KW - Simulation
KW - Validation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035501999&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0377-2217(00)00283-6
DO - 10.1016/S0377-2217(00)00283-6
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0035501999
SN - 0377-2217
VL - 134
SP - 677
EP - 688
JO - European Journal of Operational Research
JF - European Journal of Operational Research
IS - 3
ER -