Comparison of the effects of quarter-individual and conventional milking systems on milkability traits

A B Müller,S Rose-Meierhöfer,C Ammon,R Brunsch

doi:10.5194/aab-54-360-2011

A B Müller, S Rose-Meierhöfer + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-54-360-2011

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Abstract

Abstract. This study was carried out to investigate a new quarter-individual milking system called MultiLactor® (Siliconform GmbH, Türkheim, Germany). The MultiLactor enables milking on quarter level basis with low vacuum (37 kPa), sequential pulsation and periodic air inlet. Within the same dairy farm, the influence of this quarter-individual milking system (MULTI) on milkability traits was compared with a conventional milking system (CON). CON was equipped with a conventional milking cluster and used alternating pulsation. Vacuum level was adjusted to 40 kPa. For the study, 84 Holstein Friesian cows were randomly selected and uniformly divided into two herds. During the 30-week survey, the milk flow curves were recorded every other week by using a LactoCorder (WMB, Balgach, Switzerland). Significant differences (P<0.05) between both milking systems were found for all milk flow traits, except for milk yield and decline phase. Concerning the incline (tAN) and plateau (tPL) phase, large differences existed between MULTI and CON. The estimated value of tAN calculated for MULTI (29.4 s) took only half of the time when calculated for CON (56.4 s). The estimated value of tPL at CON was reduced by 1.43 min (35 %) compared to MULTI. Milking process at MULTI (8.49 min) took longer time than for CON (7.43 min). From the study, it was concluded that the effect of shorter tAN in the quarter-individual milked cows may be related to additional prestimulation by an actuator. In contrast, the longer milking time in MULTI is possibly caused by lower vacuum level and periodic air inlet.

Highlights

Milk yield, udder health and milkability are important factors which have an impact on the dairy industry in developed countries (Petrovski et al 2006, Tančin et al 2006)
The objective of this study was to compare the quarter-individual (MULTI) and the conventional (CON) milking system based on their effects on milkability traits of cows
The results showed that the covariable milk yield had an influence on all milkability traits, with exception of the duration of incline phase (tAN)

Summary

Introduction

Udder health and milkability are important factors which have an impact on the dairy industry in developed countries (Petrovski et al 2006, Tančin et al 2006). Tančin et al (2006) reported that morning or evening milking significantly influenced all measured milk flow traits because of different milking intervals. All milk flow measures were higher during morning milking except the duration of incline phase (tAN). Parity did not influence tAN just as average (DMG) and peak (HMF) milk flow rates. In matters of parity and morning or evening milking, Dodenhoff et al (1999) demonstrated the same significant influences on milkability traits as showed by Tančin et al (2006). Zucali et al (2009) confirmed a close relation between high HMF, short duration of plateau phase (tPL) and high somatic cell count (SCC) in primiparous cows at the beginning of lactation. Otherwise MIJIĆ et al (2004) demonstrated that cows with a short tAN had the least SCC in milk

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