Long-term variability of bulk milk somatic cell and bacterial counts associated with dairy farms moving from conventional to automatic milking systems

The role of engineering research in the development of robotic milking systems and the integration of robotic milking in dairy farms are reviewed. The milking stall, robot arm, teat sensing system, milking equipment and udder cleaning devices of commercial automatic milking systems (AMS) available in the Netherlands at the end of 1996 are described. The importance of the attractiveness of the milking stall, lay-out of the barn and the introduction of a cow routing with special gates in the barn is highlighted. Increasing the milking frequency from 2 to 3 times/day results in a higher yield of approximately 1000 kg milk/lactation. It is concluded that automatic milking will decrease the physical and mental load on the farmer, but it should be considered that the farmer is working with complicated equipment.

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Profitability on dairy farms with automatic milking systems compared to farms with conventional milking systems

International Food and Agribusiness Management Review ◽

10.22434/ifamr2018.0028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 215-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bjørn Gunnar Hansen ◽

Hans Olav Herje ◽

Jonas Höva

Keyword(s):

Dairy Farms ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Transitional Period ◽

Farm Size ◽

Farm Income ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Farm Production ◽

Automatic Milking ◽

The Difference ◽

Automatic Milking Systems

The objective of this study was to explore differences in profitability between farms with automatic milking systems (AMS) and farms with conventional milking systems (CMS). To explore profitability, we analysed the gross farm income from dairy cows. Accounting and production data for over a thousand dairy farms were collected. Using kernel-matching, we made CMS farms more comparable to AMS farms. We then used ordinary least squares regression to estimate the effect of AMS relative to farm size and time passed since last investment in milking systems. The results show that farms must have 35 to 40 cows before AMS becomes more profitable than CMS. Further, any profitability gains will only be visible after a transitional period of approximately four years. Milk revenues are higher on AMS farms, and the difference increases with the size of the farm. Production-related costs are also higher on AMS farms.

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Survey of somatic cell counts and milk composition in bulk milk of ewes in dairy practice

Potravinarstvo Slovak Journal of Food Sciences ◽

10.5219/1325 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

pp. 151-155

Author(s):

Martina Vršková ◽

Vladimír Tančin ◽

Michal Uhrinčať ◽

Lucia Mačuhová ◽

Kristína Tvarožková

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Fat Content ◽

Somatic Cell Counts ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Bulk Milk ◽

Synthetic Population ◽

On Farm

We evaluated milk quality during the sheep dairy period in the year 2018. The study was performed at fifteen dairy farms with differed breeds and crossbreds under Slovakian usual practical conditions (milking and pasture). At the first and seventh farm purebred Tsigai (TS) ewes were kept, at the eight to twelve farm there were purebred Lacaune ewes (LC) and the thirteen farm were kept crossbred Improved Valachian x Lacaune ewes (IV/LC, with a higher proportion of Improved Valachian), the fourteen farm crossbred Lacaune x East Friesian ewes and the last farm were ewes of the synthetic population of Slovak dairy ewe (SD). The milk yield recording and milk sampling were performed once a month during evening milking as a part of milk recording services. The basic milk composition was determined by MilkoScan FT120 (Foss, Hillerød, Denmark) and somatic cell count was determined using a Fossomatic 90 (Foss Electric, Hillerød, Denmark) after heat treatment at 40 °C for 15 min. We found the highest incidence of SCC on farm 14 with crossbred LC/EF 3.940 x 103 cells.mL-1. Followed by farms 12 and 9 with purebred LC (SCC value of 3.318 and 2.489 x 103 cells.mL-1). Farm 7 with purebred TS reached the lowest value (831 x 103 cells.mL-1). The highest fat content was reached by the purebred TS, with gradual growth from March to July. Crossbreds and the synthetic population of Slovak dairy ewe (SD) had the lowest average fat content, which could be affected by feeding. Similar tendencies were found in protein content.

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The effect of pulsation ratio on teat condition, milk somatic cell count and productivity in dairy cows in automatic milking

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029915000515 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 82 (4) ◽

pp. 453-459 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sabine Ferneborg ◽

Kerstin Svennersten-Sjaunja

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Design Experiment ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Milk Flow ◽

Commercial Farms ◽

Automatic Milking ◽

Automatic Milking Systems ◽

Milking Machine

The pulsation ratio of a milking machine affects milk flow and milking time, and has also been reported to influence teat condition and milk somatic cell count (SCC). However, most studies comparing pulsation ratios have been performed on conventional cluster milking (whole-udder level), where effects such as deteriorated teat end condition and increased milk SCC are likely to be caused by over-milking on teats that are emptied faster than the other teats. When the teat cups are detached from each udder quarter separately which can be done in automatic milking systems (AMS), the risk of over-milking, especially in front teats, may be significantly reduced. This study investigated the effects of pulsation ratio on teat end condition, milk SCC, milk yield, milking time and milk flow in an automatic milking system where each udder quarter is milked separately. In total, 356 cows on five commercial farms were included in a split-udder design experiment comparing three pulsation ratios (60:40, 70:30 and 75:25) with the standard pulsation ratio (65:35) during 6 weeks. Pulsation rate was 60 cycles/min and vacuum level 46 kPa. The 70:30 and 75:25 ratios increased peak and average milk flow and the machine-on time was shorter with 75:25, while both peak and average milk flows were lower and machine-on time was longer with the 60:40 ratio. No negative effects on teat condition or milk SCC were observed with any of the pulsation ratios applied during the study. Thus it is possible that increased pulsation ratio can be used to increase milking efficiency in AMS where quarter milking is applied.

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