Effect of mid-line or low-line milking systems on milking characteristics in goats

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out to compare mechanical milking in mid-level (ML) and low-level (LL) milkline in goats. The first trial used 40 intramammary infection (IMI)-free goats that had been milked in ML during a pre-experimental period of 4±1 weeks post partum. These animals were divided into two groups (n=20), randomly assigning each group to ML or LL milking for a 17-week experimental period. During this period, several strategies were applied to increase teat exposure to pathogens in both experimental groups. The IMI rate was the same in both experimental groups (30% of goats), although the majority of new infections appeared earlier in ML (weeks 1-5) than in LL (weeks 7-16). Teat-end vacuum range (maximum minus minimum vacuum) was higher in ML than in LL, but no significant differences were found in the remaining variables [milk production and composition, somatic cell count (SCC), frequency of liner slips+teatcups fall off]. In the second experiment, in a crossover design (54 goats in fourth month of lactation; 2 treatments, ML and LL, in 2 experimental periods each lasting 1 week) it was observed that both the milk fractioning (reduced machine milk and increased machine stripping) and average machine milk flow worsened slightly in ML milking; in contrast, no differences were observed in total milking time or teat thickness changes after milking. It was concluded that the differences found between ML and LL are not sufficiently important to discourage breeders from using ML in goat milking.

Effect of automatic cluster removers (ACRs) on the milking of Murciano-Granadina goats during lactation

“…This fact correlates with the similar results observed in the total milk produced since the synthesis and secretion of milk was not differently affected. Regarding higher vacuum drops observed in TC, they were relatively reduced (7.69 ± 0.66 kPa) and similar to what was observed by Manzur et al (2012) in Murciano-Granadina goats (3.5-12.4 kPa), who also found no differences in the mammary gland sanitary status. At any rate, the benefits of milking with AVCDs to the sanitary status of the mammary gland must not be ignored since in the case of animals that are milked more frequently, such as other goat breeds, the risks derived from milking animals whose teat-ends are not recovered are higher (Neijenhuis et al, 2001).…”

Effect of automatic cluster removers on milking efficiency and teat condition of Manchega ewes

“…These results agree with works carried out by Manzur et al (2012), where similar values Values in the same row with different letters differ at P < 0.05(*) or P < 0.01(**). of the vacuum drops (3.5-12.4 kPa) were not related to changes in this variable.…”

Effect of the pulsation type (alternate or simultaneous) on milk yield and health status of the mammary gland of Murciano-Granadina goats

“…Milk composition variables were similar in both groups of animals. It seems that, in the absence of changes in the sanitary status of the mammary gland or in the milking efficiency (milking duration and milking fractioning), different milking parlor designs or changes of the milking parameters do not affect milk composition (Manzur et al, 2012;Romero et al, 2015).…”

“…However, in small ruminants, the effects of vacuum fluctuations have not been fully explained. It is assumed, as explained in dairy cows, that fluctuations have potential to worsen mammary gland health status; however, some studies in goats (Manzur et al, 2012;Romero et al, 2015) showed significant vacuum fluctuations (up to 12.4 kPa, calculated as maximum minus minimum vacuum) with no effect on the mammary gland health status.…”