Effects of milking frequency and machine‐stripping on the yield and composition of milk from Poll Dorset ewes

Abstract

Mature Poll Dorset ewes from the Flock House commercial sheep-milking flock in their 9th week of lactation, were used in two experiments. In Experiment 1, 40 ewes were used to compare the effects of missing an afternoon milking every 7 days with control ewes which were milked twice every day. In Experiment 2, 60 ewes were used in a 2 × 2 factorial comparing once-a-day versus twice-a-day milking and no machine-stripping versus machine-stripping. The results indicated that reducing milking frequency after the 8th week of lactation had no effects on the duration of lactation and only a small effect on total lactation yield. The 7% lower milk yields resulting from missing one afternoon milking every 7 days represented a loss of only 1.6 1 milk/ewe, and the 19.4% reduction in milk yield after the 8th week of lactation from once-a-day milking represented a loss of only 7.9 1 milk/ewe. The concentration of protein was higher in the milk from ewes missing a milking in Experiment 1 (6.40 ± 0.08% for ewes missing a milking versus 6.15 ± 0.07% for controls; P < 0.05) and in the ewes milked once a day in Experiment 2 (6.3 ± 0.1% for ewes milked once a day versus 6.1 ±0.1% for ewes milked twice a day; P < 0.01). Machine-stripping had no effect on milk yields and minor effects on milk composition. The conclusions from the experiments were that labour savings of 14-30% over milking could be made by reducing the milking frequency and eliminating machine-stripping after the 8th week of lactation.

The Course of Machine Milking in Small Ruminants

“…The elimination of machine stripping does not affect milk composition, length of lactation, or SCC in milk, while it increases the number of milked sheep from 15 to 28/h, at one or two milkers, respectively (McKusik et al, 2003). In Poll Dorset ewes omitted afternoon machine milking and machine stripping in the 8-week period of milking (Knight & Gosling, 1995). The consequence was a decrease of 19.4% (7.9 l/ewe) in milk production in that period.…”

“…Given the profitability of milk production from dairy ewes and goats the results suggest that an increase of milking frequency can improve the income from milk production in many breeds. In New Zealand in view of the considerable amount of work connected with double milking the afternoon milking and machine stripping were abandoned in ewes of such breeds as Poll Dorset, Romney, Coopworth and Perendale (Knight & Gosling, 1995). In East Friesian dairy ewes the omission of machine stripping during mid-and late lactation reduced milk yield by approx.…”

“…In machine milking log BTSCC is also influenced by factors such as vacuum level, pulsation frequency and pulsator ratio in milking installations (Billon et al, 1999;Fernández et al, 1999;Sinapis et al, 2000;Peris et al, 2003aPeris et al, , 2003b. In sheep and goats daily milk yield and composition (fat, protein and lactose percentage contents) as well as log BTSCC are also affected by the frequency of milking (Knight & Gosling, 1995;Synapis et al, 2000;Negrão et al, 2001;Salama et al, 2003;Capote et al, 2008) and the use or omission of machine stripping (Knight & Gosling, 1999;Molina et al, 1999;McKusik et al, 2000McKusik et al, , 2003. In the course of machine milking in small ruminants it is also important to monitor the health status of mammary glands by diagnostic tests and dipping of teats after milking has been completed (Bergonier & Berhelot, 2003;Bergonier et al, 2003).…”

“…The milk ejection rate is regulated by the adrenergic system and peripheral inhibition of milk ejection may be caused by the adrenergic receptor stimulation or an oxytocin receptor blockade (Wellnitz & Bruckmaier, 2001). An increased frequency of milkings in ewes positively affected the secretion of milk (Labussiére, 1988;Knight & Gosling, 1995;Negrão et al, 2001). Multiparous Lacaune ewes breed between 60. and 65. days of lactation were milked at different frequencies during the day (1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, and 7x).…”

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

“…With the aim of reducing the time spent on these tasks, several studies on the simplification of milking routines have been carried out (Labussière, 1988;Molina et al, 1989;Knight and Gosling, 1995). Complex routines including double cluster attachments, intense stimulation of the udder, and hand stripping were substituted by simpler routines, such as cluster attachment, brief machine stripping, and cluster detachment.…”