[Animats]

Milking is becoming automated.[1] Milking robots are production, not experimental technology, with at least four manufacturers. This video is amusing, showing the cow's view of meeting robotic milking for the first time.

Milk cows want to be milked, to relieve the pressure. So, given the freedom to use the robotic milkers any time they want, they get milked about three times a day. Milk production increases a bit. The cows are tagged and monitored, so any cow with a problem is quickly flagged.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Q1LoxK5mE

[eric_the_read]

Those are very expensive, and really only suitable for massive dairy operations. My wife worked her way through college at a small (~300 head) dairy, and there's no way they could have afforded one of those setups.