The values of the temperature-humidity index and its influence on the performance parameters of dairy cows were monitored on four farms located in the southern part of the central Slovakia during a period of three years. The observed parameters included: the milk yield per cow per day, average milk speed and maximum milk speed. The thermal-humidity index was calculated based on a formula. The individual periods were divided according to the achieved THI. The results of dairy cows with a milk yield of 29 kg to 31 kg show that there is not a decrease in the milk yield per milking if the THI value is lower than 68. It was also found that there was a decrease in the milk yield per dairy cow in the robotic milking parlor for a THI value greater than 72. The influence of a THI value higher than 68 in these dairy cows results in a higher average milk speed, as well as a higher maximum milk speed. These two parameters are not yet in the main area of research interest. This study enriches the area with new knowledge, according to which dairy cows can show thermal stress by increasing the milk speed as well as the maximum milk speed.

Gálik R., Boďo Š. Staroňová L. (2015): Monitoring the inner surface of teat cup liners made from different materials. Res. Agr. Eng., 61 (Special Issue): S74-S78.The modern milking equipment consists of several rubber parts. Among these rubber parts, the most important is a teat cup liner, which provides direct contact force to teat tissue. Properties of teat cup liners directly affect the technical and technological process of milking, udder health condition and quality of obtained milk. The aim of the study is to specify the inner surface roughness of cup liners made from different materials. Roughness was measured using Surftest-301 Mitutoyo connected to a printer. Teat cup liners were monitored and evaluated at three different locations of the inner surface, every three months in primary production. The obtained results showed linear regression between the inner surface roughness of teat cup liners and exposure time. Significant differences of selected indicators of silicone liners were observed with P-value (0.029) < alpha (0.05). The model equation shows that if the value of cup liners exposure time increases by one month, inner surface roughness is likely to increase by approximately 0.039 μm.

In the environment of farms and farm buildings, cattle are exposed to various unnatural influences. Such an impact is also noise always arising with a certain energy conversion. In cattle farms, the sources of noise are represented by various mechanical equipment and machines that are used for enabling farm operations. The aim of the paper was to analyse the noise levels in dairy cattle production in the environment, during their day routine. Noise levels were measured at two farms with a different technological layout of milking parlour, with a different way of milking. The noise exposure of dairy cows was measured in three locations, namely in the milking parlour, during standing in the area before milking (in the so-called collection room) and directly in the stabling area. Noise exposure was measured during milking and when the milking parlour was turned off. The values were compared with the hearing sensitivity of cattle at selected frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 kHz).

The aim of the study was to determine the milking process quality through the temperature changes on teats. The measurements were conducted to evaluate the effect of partial vacuum 45 kPa and 40 kPa at the mammary gland. The measurements were done on a dairy farm at six Holstein breed dairy cows that were in the second stage of lactation. Temperature changes on teats were measured with thermal camera ThermoProTM TP8S IR during 2 days (morning milking and afternoon milking partial vacuum to 45 kPa, morning and afternoon milking with 40 kPa). The teats surface temperature was monitored before milking, after milking, 2 minutes after milking and 4 minutes after milking. The obtained results showed the increasing temperature during machine milking at both partial vacuums (45 kPa, 40 kPa). The highest temperature was reached immediately after milking. At the partial vacuum 45 kPa, the temperature increase was in morning and afternoon milking an average of +2.44 K. At partial vacuum 40 kPa the temperature increase was +1.93 K. Both temperature increases were statistically different (P > 0.05). The largest temperature decrease of teats was detected just two minutes after milking. Thermographic method used to assess the quality of milking process has proved to be useful because of the teat’s response to a machine milking process.

The paper focuses on the analysis of compliance with the technological discipline in silage quality assessment based on sampling the silage wall using thermal imaging and penetrometer method for silage compaction. Experimental measurements were done in a selected company, which has built a silage trough with a capacity of 6,624 m 3 , in which the maize (hybrid KWS -KALIFF FAO 440) with a 36% solids content was ensiled. A thermal camera ThermoPro TM TP8S IR and cone penetrometer Eijkelkamp were used for measurements. The results obtained suggest that also undesirable heating was found in the sampling area, since the maximum temperature at some places in the depth of 0.5 m reached a temperature of 36.4 °C. According to regression and correlation analysis, we found direct linear relationship between penetration resistance and penetration depth in a 6 m and 1.5 m height (R = 0.938 respectively R = 0.970).