Future fads: Self-milking cows

Here's a trinket that might either appall or intrigue you: cows that decide when they want to be milked, thanks to a nifty piece of Dutch technology.

Cow eatingToo Cud To Be True? Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty

Spotted this trinket in the Sunday Times and didn't know whether to be intrigued or appalled.


The new parlour, developed in Holland, is already in use on several British farms. Manned by robots, the system is said to be so efficient that the farmer can even go on holiday and allow the animals to look after themselves.

Supporters of the system say it not only saves time and money but shows "respect" to the cows by allowing them to manage their own lives. Opponents claim it is the ultimate in "factory farming".

So it's full of respect for our bovine chums, say the supporters. But what happens if the cows decide they don't want to be milked at all?