Influence of Milking Frequency on Productive and Reproductive Efficiencies of Dairy Cows

Abstract

Thirty-four mature Holstein cows were blocked into two groups on their 305-day, twice daily milked, mature equivalent milk production of the previous lactation; groups were assigned at random to a twice or thrice daily milking frequency. In addition, six pairs of paternal half-sisters and one pair of nonsibling heifers also were assigned to twice daily or thrice daily milking frequency. Half-sisters were assigned to milking frequency on alternate calvings, and the nonsibling pair was assigned at random. Milk production peaked at 6 wk lactation in mature cows in both treatments, at 7 wk for cows in first lactation milked twice daily, and at 9 wk for cows in first lactation milked thrice daily. Cows milked thrice daily reached higher peak milk production and were more persistent in milk production. Multiparous and first-lactation cows milked thrice daily produced 18.5 and 25.2% more milk than their counterparts milked twice daily, and after 15 wk heifers milked thrice daily were producing more milk per day than mature cows milked twice daily. The combined increased average production for cows and heifers milked thrice daily, 1299 kg, required only 92 kg more dry matter intake and resulted in an apparent preferential utilization of feed nutrients for milk production or higher rate of tissue catabolism in cows milked thrice daily. Milk composition was not influenced by milking frequency; total milk fat was 36 kg more for cows milked thrice daily. Reproductive performance measured as days to first estrus, days open, or services per conception also was not influenced by milking frequency.

Viabilidade econômica da terceira ordenha em sistemas de produção de leite com ordenhadeira tipo circuito aberto

“…Vale salientar que a realização da terceira ordenha possui como vantagens aumento de produção de leite (Gama e Lopes, 2008), diminuição dos custos fixos, melhor saúde do úbere por maior retirada de contaminantes, aumento no conforto do animal, melhor observação nos casos de mastites, o que melhora o manejo (Amos et al, 1985).…”

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

“…In this study, the increase of 16.75% in milk production, by implementing the third milking, was obtained by averaging the estimates reported by several researchers (Vasconcellos, 1975;Amos et al, 1985;Bar-Peled et al, 1995;Erdman & Varner, 1995;Hebert, 2002;Caminha & Gonçalves, 2003;Alves, 2004;Negrão, 2004;Dahl, 2005;Dias, 2005;Gama & Lopes, 2008).…”

“…A number of studies demonstrated the advantages and disadvantages of this practice, including increase in milk production (Amos et al, 1985;DePeters et al, 1985;Bar-Peled et al, 1995;Alves, 2004;Negrão, 2004;Dahl, 2005;Gama & Lopes, 2008;Bernier-Dodier et al, 2010), changes in milk composition (Waterman et al, 1983;Amos et al, 1985;DePeters et al, 1985;Allen et al, 1986;Klei et al, 1997), effect on cow health and reproduction (Jarrett, 1977;Logan et al, 1978;Poole, 1982;DePeters et al, 1985;Allen et al, 1986;Moya et al, 2008) and feed intake and metabolism (Kelly et al, 1998;Smith et al, 2002). However, none addressed the issue of economic viability.…”

“…(Erdman & Varner, 1995;Hebert, 2002;Dahl, 2005). The advantages of the third milking are the increase in milk production (Gama & Lopes, 2008), reduction of fixed costs, improved udder health by reducing contaminants and better monitoring of mastitis, which improves management (Amos et al 1985). The disadvantages of the third milking relate to increase in production cost, problems with labor by increasing an extra shift, shortening of rest period and feeding time because of the number of visits to the barn, increase in hoof problems because of the number of visits to the milking parlor, increase in concentrate feeding and teats more prone to wounds and traumas (Erdman & Varner, 1995).…”

Milk Removal: The Key to Maintaining Milk Production and a Tool to Enhance Efficiency

“…A typical response to 3X milking is illustrated in Figure 1, which shows the lactation curves of cows milked 2X or 3X for the entire lactation (re-drawn from Amos et al, 1985). Three-times daily milking increased milk production both at peak and through the entire lactation.…”