Economic viability of the third milking in systems of production using closed-circuit mechanical milking

Abstract

RESUMOViabilidade econômica da terceira ordenha em sistemas de produção de leite com ordenhadeira de circuito fechadoObjetivou-se, com este trabalho, analisar a viabilidade econômica da terceira ordenha, em sistemas de produção de leite com ordenhadeira mecânica, do tipo circuito fechado, visando a fornecer aos técnicos e pecuaristas informações que os auxiliem nas tomadas de decisões. Especificamente, pretendeu-se, ainda: a) estimar o custo de uma ordenha; b) estimar o custo da terceira ordenha; c) desenvolver uma equação matemática que permita estimar a quantidade mínima de leite produzida em duas ordenhas, a partir da qual será viável economicamente a realização da terceira ordenha. Os dados foram coletados em três propriedades leiteiras, de novembro de 2010 a março de 2011, em uma rotina de duas ordenhas diárias, sendo realizadas três coletas de dados em cada uma, perfazendo um total de nove. Considerando-se os dados médios, seria viável a realização da terceira ordenha se a produtividade média diária das vacas em lactação, em duas ordenhas, fosse igual ou superior a 24,43 kg de leite.Palavras-chave: bovinocultura leiteira, custo de produção, economia, frequência de ordenhas. This study aimed to analyze the economic viability of the third milking in production systems using mechanical milking in a closed circuit, aiming to provide technicians and farmers with information to assist them in decisionmaking. Specifically, it intended: (a) to estimate the cost of one milking; (b) to estimate the cost of the third milking; (c) to develop a mathematical equation to estimate the minimum amount of milk produced with two milkings, from which it would be economically feasible to do the third milking. Data were collected from three dairy farms, from November 2010 to March 2011, keeping a twice-a-day milking frequency, with three data collections in each farm, totalizing nine collections. Considering the average data, it would be feasible to do the third milking if the average milk yield per day of lactating cows in a twice-a-day milking frequency was greater than or equal to 24.43 kg of milk.

Production response in dairy cows milked two or three times a day: A meta-analysis

“…39 An economic analysis demonstrated that it is more feasible switching to 3× when cows in 2× milking produce more than 24.5 kg of milk per day. 50 Factors such as body condition score, health, reproduction, and economic impact were not included in this meta-analysis, and the authors recommend their study in future research. It has been reported that cows on 1X experienced less negative energy balance than cows on 2× and 3×; however, without a negative effect on reproduction.…”

Robotic milking of dairy cows: a review

“…Erdman and Varner (1995) reported a potential growth of up to 25% in productivity when cows previously milked just twice are milked three times a day. Lopes, Nogueira and Barbosa (2014), a broad overview of the literature shows an average increase of 14.75%. Therefore, the goal is to allow access to the AMS by high productive-potential lactating cows more often, so an average number of milking events close to three milking a day per cow or above could be reached.…”

Effect of the Milking Frequency on the Concentrations of Ammonia and Greenhouse Gases within an Open Dairy Barn in Hot Climate Conditions

“…The management choice of changing from two to three milkings proved to increase milk yield by up to 20% [18], though the economic advantages due to the additional milk yield obtained are not always ensured. In fact, different studies in the literature also assessed the economic aspects related to the increase of milking frequencies [19][20][21][22].…”