Automatic Milking Systems (AMS) represent one of the most recent advancements in milking technology, and their effects on all aspects of the dairy industry need to be considered. Our first objective was to evaluate the adaptation rate of a herd of Holstein dairy cows to being milked by an AMS. Stress-related behaviors during the milking process were recorded for 77 cows as they transitioned from milking in a parlor system to an AMS. Instances of defecation, urination and vocalization in the AMS were greater on Day 0 (day of transition) compared to all other days (P < 0.05); milk yield increased after Day 0 (P < 0.001). Based on these findings, cows appeared to adapt to milking in the AMS within 24 hours. Our second objective was to determine if cow behavior and gate configuration around the AMS affected the availability of the milking system. Eighty-four cows were divided evenly into two groups (42/group) and observed in the AMS entrance and exit areas, as well as in the adjacent holding area. Cows exiting the AMS were more likely to hesitate when another cow was near the exit gate (P < 0.01) or in the general holding area (P < 0.01). The duration of hesitation for exiting cows increased linearly as the number of cows in the holding area increased (P < 0.01). The AMS time budgets may be dependent on differing social dynamics of a herd. The two experimental groups investigated had differing relationships for successful milking events, back-up events, and AMS empty events. Based on these results, it appears important to consider both cow behavior and gate and alley configuration when introducing a herd to an AMS, although the degree to which it affects individual cows may be variable according to the social structure of the herd in focus.
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