Michigan State University is inviting the public to take a look at its new robotic cow milking operation, which the school says makes life easier for farmers as well as cows.

The milking machines let cows come in to be milked when they need or want to. Robots also collect health and other data on the cows.

The dairy is at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station in Kalamazoo County's Ross Township, about 50 miles west-southwest of the school's main East Lansing campus. It is open to the public from 1-4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Operation coordinator Mat Haan says the "pasture-based system" frees farmers from the need to follow a strict milking schedule. He says the system aims to help small and medium-size dairy operations.