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How dairy robots are changing work for cows and farmers

(spectrum.ieee.org)
225 points DonHopkins | 1 comments | 15 Apr 25 22:26 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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your_challenger ◴[16 Apr 25 04:36 UTC] No.43701517[source]▶
This is amazing! We need more automation in the world.

But how do they train the cow to stand in line to get milked? Why would a cow patiently wait in line to be milked?

replies(1): >>43701701 #
1. lurquer ◴[16 Apr 25 05:07 UTC] No.43701701[source]▶
Full udders are painful. For humans too. If mom starts breastfeeding and then abruptly stops, the boobs will swell up and ache horribly for several days (until lactation stops due to lack of stimulation.)

You don’t need to train the cow. After it’s milked once with the machine, it associates the thing with pain relief (plus a little snack to reinforce.)