The impact of a shaded pre-milking yard on a pasture-based automatic milking system

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashleigh M. Wildridge ◽  
Sergio C. Garcia ◽  
Peter C. Thomson ◽  
Ellen C. Jongman ◽  
Cameron E.F. Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Metabolic Stress ◽  
Shade Treatment ◽  
Respiration Rates ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Automatic Milking System ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Cow Performance ◽  
The Impact

During hot weather cows typically reduce feed intake and actively seek shade and water to reduce the metabolic stress on their bodies. This can have a negative impact on the occurrence of voluntary milking visits to an automatic milking system (AMS) operating with voluntary traffic, thus reducing milking frequency. Shade is known to be effective in alleviating heat stress in dairy cattle; however, the impact of providing shade at the milking facility of a pasture-based AMS on time taken to voluntarily enter a milking unit is unknown. A herd of ~300 lactating cows milked in a pasture-based AMS were divided into two groups during the summer of 2016. Each group spent 4 weeks in a SHADE (predominately shaded pre-milking yard) and a NO-SHADE (predominantly non-shaded pre-milking yard) treatment, with two periods in a crossover design. Cow respiration rates, time spent in pre- and post-milking areas, concentrate consumption and milk yield were recorded. On average, cows in the SHADE treatment were found to take longer to enter the milking unit than did cows in the NO-SHADE treatment (SHADE = 11.40 min, NO-SHADE = 8.70 min, P < 0.001). SHADE was also associated with lower average respiration rates (SHADE = 68 breaths per minute (bpm), NO-SHADE = 73 bpm, P < 0.001), increased concentrate consumption (SHADE = 6.50 kg/cow.day, NO-SHADE = 6.39 kg/cow.day, P = 0.03) and increased milk yield (SHADE = 11.44 kg/cow.milking, NO-SHADE = 10.95 kg/cow.milking, P < 0.001). Overall, SHADE made available to the cows pre-milking appeared to improve cow performance and comfort (as indicated by reduced respiration rates).

The impact of IPARD supports on structural and managerial featuresof dairy enterprises in Afyonkarahisar province

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Yardimci ◽  
Hikmet Ari ◽  
Recep Aslan
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Production Quality ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Automatic Milking System ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Daily Milk

A survey was carried out to determine the impact of IPARD supports on dairy enterprises in Afyonkarahisar. IPADR beneficiary group found to have 3-5 years of experience, university graduate owners with no extra income where records are kept and statistical analysis is performed. Non-beneficiary group was more experienced with less educated owners, half had an extra income but did not keep records and not perform statistical analysis. In the first group, average daily milk yield was 25 liters, calves were weaned at 90 days, automatic milking system was used, hoof care was regularly performed, manure was removed by scrapers, teats were cleaned before and after milking while in the second group average daily milk yield is 10-30 liters, calves were weaned between 30-90 days, mobile milking machines were used, hoof care was slightly performed, manure was collected manually, teats were cleaned before milking. Consequently, IPARD grants were useful for improving the production quality, hygiene and amount in dairy enterprises.

scholarly journals 57 Impact of weaning strategy on beef cow performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Mary Clarke Worthington ◽  
Grace C Ott ◽  
Matthew H Poore ◽  
Carrie L Pickworth
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Second Trimester ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Beef Cow ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Weaning Stress ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Period Data ◽  
Cow Performance ◽  
The Impact

Abstract It has been shown that physiologic stress in beef cattle can impact animal performance. Weaning stress is recognized as a major stress in a calf’s life. However, less is known of its impacts on the dam or developing fetus, as the dam is at the end of the second trimester at weaning. Therefore, the objective was to investigate the impact of weaning stress on cow performance. A total of 240 cows from two locations were assigned to one of three weaning strategies: abrupt removal of the calf on d 0 (n = 80), d 7 cow-calf fenceline contact (n = 81), and late weaning on d 84 (n = 79). Cows averaged 16 and 24 weeks of gestation on d 0 and d 84 respectively. Weights and BCS were obtained monthly. Behavioral observations occurred over the week before and after weaning for each weaning period. Five late-wean cows per location were milked on d 14 and d 70 to estimate milk yield throughout the late wean period. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with BW and BCS utilizing repeated measures. Means are declared different at P ≤ 0.05. The ADG over the course of the study was lower (P < 0.05) for the late weaned cows compared to the abrupt weaned cows. This was also reflected by change in body condition where late weaned cows dropped from a 5.7 to a 4.9 (P < 0.05) over the 105 d. Milk production in late weaned cows decreased over time (6.0 and 4.4 kg/d for d 14 and 70, respectively; P = 0.05). Energy expenditure for lactation may have contributed to the drop in BCS of the late weaned compared with the non-lactating cows and could compromise third trimester growth of calf in utero. The results of this study warrant further exploration of the effect of weaning stress on dams and their developing fetuses.

Effect of low light intensity at night on cow traffic in automatic milking systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1784
Author(s):  
Fanny Hjalmarsson ◽  
Ingemar Olsson ◽  
Sabine Ferneborg ◽  
Sigrid Agenäs ◽  
Emma Ternman
Keyword(s):  
Light Intensity ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Milking Frequency ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Automatic Milking Systems ◽  
Reduced Light

Several studies have shown benefits of long-day (16 h) photoperiod in lactating dairy cows, but have not identified a suitable light intensity for the dark hours. It is known that the locomotion pattern of dairy cows is altered at low light intensities and this may translate to reduced cow traffic and milking frequency, which would have a negative impact on system productivity. However, it is also recognised that a significant disturbance of rest may have a negative impact on the health and productivity of high-yielding dairy cows. This study examined the effect of three different night-time light intensities (LOW: 11 ± 3, MED: 33 ± 1 and HIGH: 74 ± 6 lx) on number of gate passages, milking frequency and milk yield in dairy cows in automatic milking systems. The study was conducted in Sweden during the winter of 2012–13 and the treatments were applied in a crossover design to three herds with an automatic milking system. Minimum day time light intensity was 158 lx. Data on gate passages, milking frequency and milk yield for 172 ± 49 (mean ± s.d.) cows during the last 22 days of each 34-day study period were analysed for treatment differences and differences in daily distribution over 24 h, during day time and night time. Light intensity did not affect total number of gate passages per 24-h period and cow, but number of gate passages per hour and cow was in all treatments lower during night time than during day time. Milking frequency was increased in MED compared with both HIGH and LOW (P < 0.05). Milk yield decreased with reduced light intensity, and differed significantly between HIGH and LOW treatments, 45 ± 1 kg and 44 ± 1 kg, respectively (P < 0.001). Our conclusion is that reducing light intensity to 11 lx at night time does not affect cows’ general activity as gate passages remained the same for all treatments. However, milk yield decreased with reduced light intensity, which might be related to a lower feed intake. We argue that providing night light for dairy cows, as required by many welfare acts, might be related to production level rather than welfare aspects and that the recommendations should be revised.

scholarly journals FATORES QUE AFETAM A RENTABILIDADE DA PECUÁRIA DE LEITE

Nativa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 295
Author(s):  
Lucas Maciel Gomes Olini ◽  
Andrea Beltrani Donadia ◽  
Henrique Melo da Silva ◽  
Karine Claudia Alessi ◽  
Daniel Carneiro de Abreu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Labor Cost ◽  
Productivity Index ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
The Impact

Objetivou-se identificar e quantificar os indicadores associados com o tamanho, com a taxa de giro do capital investido (TGC) e com a lucratividade que afetam a rentabilidade da pecuária de leite. Os dados originaram-se de vinte e sete produtores de leite (213,6 ± 193,9 litros de leite/fazenda/dia) no Estado de Mato Grosso, coletados durante doze meses. Dos fatores associados com a lucratividade, o custo com mão-de-obra relativa à renda com leite e a produtividade da mão-de-obra afetaram negativamente a rentabilidade. O preço do leite, os custos com alimentação concentrada ou volumosa relativos à renda bruta com leite não afetaram a rentabilidade da pecuária.  Os indicadores associados com a produtividade da terra (produção de leite por área e número de vacas em lactação por área usada pelo rebanho) apresentaram maior impacto na rentabilidade da pecuária de leite que os indicadores de produtividade do rebanho. A proporção de vacas em lactação em relação ao rebanho e a produção de leite por total de vacas (mas não por vaca em lactação) são os indicadores de produtividade do rebanho de maior impacto na rentabilidade.Palavras-chave: custo de produção; eficiência; lucratividade. FACTORS AFFECTING THE PROFITABILITY OF DAIRY FARMING  ABSTRACT: The objective was to identify and quantify the impact of indicators associated with size, return on invested capital (ROIC) and profitability on economic performance (rentability) of dairy farms. Data from twenty seven dairy farms (213.6 ± 193.9 liters milk/farm/day) were collected in Mato Grosso State, during twelve months. Of the factors associated with profitability, the labor cost and labor productivity negatively affected rentability. Milk price and concentrate feed cost (in relation with milk gross income) did not affect rentability of dairy farm. Land productivity index (milk yield/dairy farm area; lactating cows/dairy farm area used by dairy herd) had greater impact on economic performance than animal productivity index. Lactating cows/head ratio and milk yield per total cows (but not by lactating cow) are the animal productivity index that had the greatest impact on rentability of dairy farms.Keywords: cost of production; efficiency; profitability.

Relative motivations of dairy cows to attend a voluntary automatic milking system

1997 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 80-83
Author(s):  
N. B. Prescott ◽  
T. T. Mottram ◽  
A. J. F. Webster
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Human Intervention ◽  
Proportional Increase ◽  
Automatic Milking System ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Milking Machine ◽  
Conventional Systems

Voluntary automatic milking is proposed as a system whereby dairy cows can choose to be milked when they want. The aim is to develop a system that can milk and perform all the associated tasks without requiring routine human intervention. (Details of the design and operation can be found in Street et al., 1992.) The system may not be viable unless the cows visit at an appropriate frequency, high enough to generate the 0·10 to 0·15 proportional increase of milk yield from cows milked three or more times per day (e.g. Knight and Wilde, 1993) but not so high as to result in some cows over-using the system. Understanding why cows may want to visit the system is therefore important. The two most important reasons why a cow may attend are likely to be motivation to be milked and motivation to eat. Motivation to be milked may change as lactation progresses. Late lactation cows have been shown to enter a milking parlour later than high yielding cows in one experiment (Rathore, 1982) but not in another (Winter, 1993). Rathore (1982) suggested that motivation to be milked may be generated by the discomfort of a large and distended udder. Motivation to be milked may also be linked to some inherent desire of the cow to suckle and subsequently wean her calf. This may be independent of the amount of milk in her udder and decline during lactation. Therefore motivation to be milked could be generated either from the discomfort of a large and distended udder or by some psychological desire by the cow to suckle a calf generalized to a milking machine. Either way, the strength of motivation to be milked may have implications for how an automatic milking system (AMS) is designed. For example, if cows were highly motivated to be milked and attended at an appropriate frequency, there would be no requirement to provide additional incentives, such as food, to attract cows into the AMS. In addition, if cows choose to be milked more frequently than they are milked in conventional systems (generally twice per day), then this may be a method by which choices can be engineered into an animal’s environment.

scholarly journals Nutritional evaluation of ensilage made from intercropped corn and sunflowers

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Fisher ◽  
S. Bittman ◽  
Z. Mir ◽  
P. Mir ◽  
J. A. Shelford
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Plasma Metabolites ◽  
Plasma Urea ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Rumen Ph

The feeding value of sunflower–corn silage relative to that of corn silage as the only forage fed lactating cows was established using 12 lactating Holstein cows in an experiment with a 2 × 2 Latin square design. Treatment periods were 5 wk and there was no changeover period between treatments. A constant grain intake to milk yield ratio of 1:4 was maintained. The comparison was based on dry matter (DM) intake, milk yield and composition, body-weight change, rumen pH and molar proportions of volatile fatty acids and plasma metabolites. The sunflower–corn silage was lower in DM content (25.4 vs. 29.2%), but higher in protein (11.5 vs. 8.0%), acid detergent fiber (33.2 vs. 29.2%), fat (8.1 vs. 2.1%) and total ash (10.6 vs. 4.9%). Silage DM intake was the same for both silages, but milk yield was significantly greater (P < 0.05) (32.7 vs. 31.2 kg d−1) for cows fed sunflower–corn silage. However, both milk fat (3.19 vs. 3.87%) and milk protein (3.04 vs. 3.26%) were lower (P < 0.05) for cows fed sunflower–corn silage, resulting in a higher (P < 0.05) fat-corrected milk yield (30.5 vs. 28.4 kg d−1) for the cows fed corn silage. Type of silage fed did not alter rumen pH, but the molar percentage of acetic acid was higher (P < 0.05) and the molar percentages of isovaleric and valeric acids were lower when sunflower–corn silage was fed. The feeding of sunflower–corn silage resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.05) in plasma urea nitrogen (10.60 vs. 7.53 mg 100−1), cholesterol (7.36 vs. 5.63 mmol L−1) and triglyceride (0.20 vs. 0.18 mmol L−1). Plasma levels of methionine (29.9 vs. 18.5 mmol mL−1) and valine (208.0 vs. 191.0 N mol mL−1) were greater for cows fed the sunflower–corn silage. It was concluded from this study that intercropped sunflower–corn harvested and preserved as silage is an acceptable source of forage for lactating cows, but when fed as the only source of forage it may have a negative impact on milk composition. Key words: lactating cows, sunflower–corn silage, milk yield, milk composition

scholarly journals Factors affecting reproductive performance of dairy cows in a pasture-based, automatic milking system research farm: a retrospective, single-cohort study

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Talukder ◽  
P. Celi ◽  
K. L. Kerrisk ◽  
S. C. Garcia ◽  
N. K. Dhand
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
System Research ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Milking Frequency ◽  
Automatic Milking System ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Herd Milk ◽  
Single Cohort

A retrospective, single-cohort study was conducted to identify production and health factors associated with reproductive performance in a pasture-based, automatic milking system research farm. The calving system of this herd shifted from split calving to year-round calving gradually during the study period. Data from 365 cows with 798 lactations were analysed. Reproductive outcome variables of interest were intervals from calving to first oestrus, to first insemination, and to conception, as well as number of inseminations per conception, probability of submission for insemination by 80 days in milk, probability of conception by 100 days in milk and probability of conception at first insemination. Production factors (milk yield and its composition, milking frequency), record of periparturient disease, parity and season of calving were considered as predictor variables. The associations between predictor and outcome variables were assessed by multivariable linear regression, logistic regression and survival analyses, for quantitative, binary and time-to-event outcomes, respectively. Average milk yield and milking frequency during 100 days in milk were not significantly associated with any of the reproductive measures. The likelihood of conception by 100 days in milk decreased gradually with year of automatic milking system commissioning. Cows calved in autumn were 43% (hazard ratio 1.43, P < 0.05) more likely to conceive than cows calved in summer. Multiparous cows were more likely (P < 0.05) to be recorded for oestrus than primiparous cows. Twinning was negatively associated with the reproductive outcomes measured in the automatic milking system research herd. Milk yield and milking frequency during 100 days in milk had no effect on reproductive measures in the pasture-based, automatic milking system research herd.

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