Maris Mangalis

Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Maris Mangalis is a dedicated researcher in the field of precision livestock farming, with a primary focus on the behavioral and welfare implications of automatic milking systems (AMS) in dairy cattle. His work centers on understanding the critical factors that influence voluntary cow traffic in robotic milking facilities, addressing a key operational challenge: ensuring cows are motivated to visit the milking robot without requiring additional labor for herding. Mangalis’s research has demonstrated that cow willingness to move for milking is shaped by specific environmental and management factors, offering practical insights for optimizing AMS efficiency. In a notable 2020 study, he investigated the impact of milking robot application on cow longevity and somatic cell counts, comparing robotic systems with traditional side-by-side milking parlors. This work, conducted at a teaching and research farm using De Laval VMS robots, provides valuable data on how automation affects animal health and productive lifespan. While his citation counts (2–3 per paper) reflect a niche but growing field, Mangalis’s contributions are foundational for dairy operations seeking to balance automation with animal welfare, making his findings essential reading for students and researchers in agricultural engineering and animal science.