Influence of switch level of automatic cluster removers on milking performance and udder health

1993 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten D. Rasmussen

SummaryThe effect of a switch level of 200 or 400 g/min for automatic cluster removers on milking performance and udder health was measured with 71 first lactation cows in their first 36 weeks of lactation and with 64 older cows in their first 12 weeks of lactation. Early removal of the milking unit decreased machine-on time by 0·5 min, increased average milk flow rate slightly, improved teat condition significantly and reduced the change in teat end thickness during milking of first lactation cows. Early removal of the milking unit did not affect milk yield or composition, and the incidence and prevalence of subclinical mastitis were the same in the two groups. Fewer older cows developed clinical mastitis in the group switched at 400 g/min, but this was not significant. It is concluded that the milking unit can be detached at a milk flow rate of 400 instead of 200 g/min without having a negative influence on milk yield. Machine-on time is shortened and teat condition improved, and udder health does not seem to be affected.

2012 ◽  
Vol 48 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Tancin ◽  
A.H. Ipema ◽  
D. Peskovicova ◽  
P.H. Hogeverf ◽  
J. Macuhova

The objectives of our study were to describe the variation of quarter milk flow parameters and to determine the factors that affect these parameters the most. Additionally, repeatabilities (r<sub>2</sub>) of the quarter milk flow traits (duration of milk flow, time to reach peak flow, peak flow rate, and duration of milk flow in single phases &ndash; increase, plateau, decline and blind phase) were calculated. Repeatability of total milk yield and milk yield in single phases was calculated, too. The data from 39 Holstein cows, in their first to third lactation and free of clinical mastitis, were used for statistical analysis. A total of 1 656 curves of quarter milk flows were recorded during six consecutive days. At the last evening and morning milking samples of milk from each quarter were collected for determination of somatic cell count (SCC). Peak flow rate, quarter position, time of milking (morning and evening) and SCC significantly affected most of the measured traits. The highest r2 were for total milk yield and yield of plateau phase 0.53 and 0.50, resp. The lowest r2 were calculated for the duration of increase phase, and milk yield of the increase and blind phase 0.26, 0.12 and 0.21, resp. Peak flow rate, SCC, time of milking and front-rear position influenced the values of r2 of traits to various extent.


2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Strapák ◽  
Peter Antalík ◽  
Iveta Szencziová

Milkability evaluation of Holstein dairy cows by LactocorderThe aim of this work was to evaluate chosen milk flow characteristics of Holstein dairy cows, using mobile electronic milk flow meters - Lactocorders. A total of 181 Holstein dairy cows were evaluated and divided according to parity, lactation stage and bimodality in order to carry out a detailed comparison of measured milkability traits. The average total milk yield was 11.98±3.41 kg per milking with an average milk flow rate of 2.52±0.75 kg min-1 and a maximum milk flow rate of 3.94±1.30 kg min-1. The total milk yield showed positive correlations with the average milk flow rate (r = 0.48; P<0.001) and also with the maximum milk flow rate (r = 0.32; P<0.001). More than 47% of milk flow curves were classified as bimodal. Bimodality was positively correlated with the duration of the incline phase (r = 0.73; P<0.001) and negatively correlated with the quantity of milk obtained during the first minute of milking (r = -0.34; P<0.001). In relation to the lactation stage - the highest average milk flow rate was reached by Holstein dairy cows at the beginning of the lactation (up to 100 days in milk), and in relation to parity - the highest milk flow rates were measured in second-lactation dairy cows.


Author(s):  
Anand Mishra ◽  
Shailendra Khatri ◽  
Sanjeet Kumar Jha ◽  
Shamshad Ansari

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1053
Author(s):  
Julia Nitz ◽  
Volker Krömker ◽  
Doris Klocke ◽  
Nicole Wente ◽  
Yanchao Zhang ◽  
...  

To reduce the negative effects of mastitis in dairy heifers in early lactation on the future milking performance, the aim of this study was to define the time-related period of intramammary infections and to relate this to risk factors at heifer and quarter level for intramammary infections and subclinical mastitis. In total, 279 German Holstein Frisian heifers in three farms in Northern and Eastern Germany were included in this study. Quarter milk samples for cytomicrobiological examination were collected 3 ± 1 days after calving and 17 ± 3 days after calving, and risk factors at heifer and quarter level associated with intramammary infections and clinical mastitis were recorded during the trial period. Data were analyzed using logistic regression procedures and odds ratios were calculated. Calving at older ages increased the odds of intramammary infections with non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) and coryneforms 17 ± 3 days after calving compared to heifers calving at a younger age. Detaching of milking cups during milking is a risk factor for new infections between day 3 ± 1 and 17 ± 3 postpartum. The milk yield after calving is associated with a decrease in intramammary infections with environmental pathogens and clinical mastitis. A high milk yield assists the development of udder edema with an increased risk of intramammary infections with NAS and coryneforms. An increased somatic cell count (SCC) after calving increased the odds of intramammary infections with contagious pathogens 17 ± 3 days postpartum. The early lactation has an important influence on udder health and intramammary infections postpartum in dairy heifers. Udder quarters eliminated pathogens during early lactation by 6.9% for cases in this study. New infections manifest themselves up until 17 ± 3 days postpartum, especially with Corynebacterium spp. and NAS. In total, 82.9% of the infected quarters showed new infections with another pathogen species 17 ± 3 days postpartum than 3 ± 1 days postpartum. In conclusion, the early lactation has an important influence on udder health and intramammary infections postpartum in heifers with the possibility that udder quarters eliminate pathogens, but also the danger that new infections manifest themselves. Thus, the prevention of new infections by minimizing the associated risk factors is of great importance.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Sawa ◽  
Sylwia Krężel-Czopek ◽  
Mariusz Bogucki

Abstract Analysis was made of the effect of dry period length in primiparous and multiparous cows on daily milk yield during the first month of subsequent lactation and on milk somatic cell count (SCC) on the basis of the information about the test-day milkings of 59 138 cows. The GLM and FREQ procedures of the SAS package were used in the statistical calculations. Dry period length in the primiparous and multiparous cows had a significant effect (P≤0.01) on daily milk yield and udder health, determined based on SCC. In terms of milk yield, the most favourable dry period would be 51-70 days for both primiparous and multiparous cows. Depending on udder health, a dry period of 51-90 days can be suggested. Shorter dry periods had more undesirable effects than longer dry periods. Excessively shortened dry period (≤10 days) caused the daily milk yield to decrease by 17% in primiparous and by 13% in multiparous cows while increasing the risk of clinical changes of the cow’s udder, regardless of age. The proportion of milk samples that showed evidence of clinical mastitis also increased when the dry period was excessively long (>90 days), especially in multiparous cows.


1995 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Ulrich Pfeilsticker ◽  
Rupert M. Bruckmaier ◽  
Jürg W. Blum

SUMMARYExperiments were designed to test the hypothesis that milk ejection rate decreases during milking, thereby causing insufficient refill of the cistern and decreasing milk flow rate towards the end of milking. In a first series of experiments machine milking of the left front quarters of 11 cows was interrupted for 2 min after removal of 25, 50 or 75% of expected total milk yield, while milking was continued in the other three quarters. Milk flow was recorded during machine-on times. Intramammary pressure (IMP) was recorded during premilking teat stimulation and during interruption of milking. IMP during interruption of milking decreased with decreasing amounts of milk remaining in the udder. The IMP did not change during these interruptions when they occurred after 25 and 50% of expected total milk yield was removed. Thus, the ejection rate could keep up with the milk flow or removal rate. However, IMP increased during interruption of milking following removal of 75% of total yield, although significantly so only in cows with a high milk flow rate. Obviously, more milk was removed than was transported to the cisternal cavity. It is likely that a reduced ejection rate caused the decreased milk flow rate. In a second series of experiments the pulsation ratio of the milking machine was changed from the usual 70:30 to 50:50 with the aim of reducing the milk flow rate and thus adapting to the ejection rate at the end of milking. The changed pulsation ratio caused a reduced peak flow rate and a prolonged high milk flow period, whereas the main flow rate did not change significantly.


2007 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-347
Author(s):  
N. Kanswohl ◽  
M. Schlegl ◽  
G. Polanco Expósito ◽  
D. Rössel

Abstract. Title of the paper: Effect of different time of pre-milking teat preparation on milking characteristics of dairy cows in Cuba For the evaluation of different times of pre-milking teat preparation on milking ability of different races/genotypes some parameters about milking with machines (milking characteristics) have been registered. This study reveals that an insufficient pre-milking teat preparation clearly under 60 s lead to a significant deterioration of the milking characteristics. The average milk flow rate decreased while the main-milking-time and the post-milking-time increased. Generally a pre-milking teat preparation of 60s was sufficient to trigger a fully adequate milk ejection. An increase of this time of pre-milking teat preparation to 300 s or even 400 s lead to negative influence on the milking characteristics.


2003 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Firk ◽  
E. Stamer ◽  
W. Junge ◽  
J. Krieter

Abstract. As visual oestrus detection is difficult to perform in large herds, different technical devices were developed to facilitate oestrus detection. In this investigation the significance of the traits activity, milk yield, milk flow rate and electrical conductivity due to oestrus was analysed. The traits were recorded automatically during each milking on a commercial dairy farm. Oestrus detection was performed for 862 cows on basis of time series consisting of 15 days before oestrus, the day of oestrus and 15 days after oestrus. The day of oestrus was determined by the insemination which caused a calving after 265 to 295 days. The univariate analyses of traits were performed by the time series methods day-to-day comparison, moving average, exponential smoothing and Box-Jenkins three parameter smoothing. For multivariate analyses a fuzzy logic model was developed and modified for the different combinations of traits. The efficiency of the detection models and traits was determined by the parameters sensitivity, specificity and error rate. A moving average was the best suited time series method for oestrus detection by activity data. Sensitivity ranged between 94.2 and 71% and error rate was between 53.2 and 21.5% for threshold values between 40 and 120%. The traits milk yield, milk flow rate and electrical conductivity were not suitable for univariate oestrus detection. Depending on the considered traits multivariate analyses resulted in sensitivities between 87.0 and 87.9%. The error rate varied between 28.2 and 31.0%. Further analyses should include previous information such as time since last oestrus.


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