Milking time and risk of over-milking can be decreased with early teat cup removal based on udder quarter milk flow without loss in milk yield

Abstract

Increasing the milk flow rate at which milking is terminated can shorten milking time and increase milking efficiency. The effects on milk yield and composition have not been fully investigated when the take-off is set at the udder quarter level and independent of feeding during milking. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of 3 take-off levels at the udder quarter level (0.06, 0.3, and 0.48 kg/min) applied with or without feeding during milking on milking time, milk yield, the degree of udder emptying, milk composition, and free fatty acids. In this study, 30 cows were allocated into 6 groups, balanced by lactation number, lactation stage, and milk yield, and subjected to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments using a Latin square design. Treatments were applied for 1 wk each. This study demonstrated milking time could be reduced by applying up to a take-off level of 0.48 kg/min on udder quarter level without losing milk yield or compromising milk composition or udder health.

Effects of simulated quarter and udder teat cup removal settings on strip milk and milking duration in dairy cows

“…Although this study was not designed to test the effect of SM on milk production, our results can help in the interpretation of previous studies and in the design of new studies to explore this relationship. Krawczel et al (2017) found no differences in daily milk yield between 0.06, 0.3, and 0.48 kg/min switch-points applied at the quarter level but did not measure SM.…”

“…When milk flow rate switch-points were applied at the quarter level, our predicted reduction in MD Q (2.0 min from MFR0.2 Q to MFR1.0 Q ) was considerably larger than the reduction in MD U for the same switch-point applied at the udder level (1.4 min from MFR0.2 Q to MFR1.0 Q ). A study by Krawczel et al (2017) reported a 0.9-min (12%) reduction in MD between 0.06 kg/ min and 0.48 kg/min switch-point settings. Although the switch-point settings used in our study were not the same as those used by Krawczel et al (2017), the reduction in MD was comparable: 0.4-min (9%) reduction in MD Q between MFR0.2 Q and MFR0.4 Q , and 1.1min (25%) reduction between MFR0.2 Q and MFR0.6 Q.…”

“…A study by Krawczel et al (2017) reported a 0.9-min (12%) reduction in MD between 0.06 kg/ min and 0.48 kg/min switch-point settings. Although the switch-point settings used in our study were not the same as those used by Krawczel et al (2017), the reduction in MD was comparable: 0.4-min (9%) reduction in MD Q between MFR0.2 Q and MFR0.4 Q , and 1.1min (25%) reduction between MFR0.2 Q and MFR0.6 Q.…”

“…Additionally, Clarke et al (2008) reported that removing the clusters at 0.8 kg/min, compared with 0.3 kg/min at the udder level, did not cause an increase in SCC for either infected or uninfected quarters. In an AMS, Krawczel et al (2017) saw no effect on SCC or milk yield when teat cup milk flow rate switch-point was increased from 0.06 kg/min to 0.48 kg/min at the quarter level. The study by Penry et al (2017) measured the milk left in the quarter, and thus it is not comparable with a specific milk flow rate switch-point used in other studies.…”

“…In high-producing dairy cows, Stewart et al (2002) found a 10-to 15-s reduction in milking duration by increasing the milk flow rate switch-point from 0.73 kg/min to 0.82 kg/min at the udder level. At the quarter level, Ipema and Hogewerf (2002) found a 10% reduction in milking duration when quarter milk Effects of simulated quarter and udder teat cup removal settings on strip milk and milking duration in dairy cows P. Silva Boloña, 1,2 * J. Upton, 2 and D. J. Reinemann 3 flow rate switch-point was increased from 0.05 to 0.15 kg/min, and Krawczel et al (2017) found that milking duration was 0.9 min (12%) shorter when the teat cup milk flow rate switch-point was increased from 0.06 kg/ min to 0.48 kg/min at the quarter level.…”