Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of six different working vacuum levels (range 37–52 kPa) on the milk production, milk flow rate and milking times of Mediterranean Italian buffalo. A total of 801 milk flow curves of 450 animals of different parity and at different stages of lactation were recorded at random by electronic milk flow meters (Lactocorder®) over a period of 12 weeks. The vacuum level did not significantly affect the individual milk production per milking (average 4.02±0.06 kg). Lower vacuum level resulted in a decrease in average and peak flow rate (P<0.001), and an increase in effective milking time between attaching the teat cup and reaching the value of 0.20 kg/min at the end of milking (P<0.001). Vacuum levels of 37 and 40 kPa provided good milkability conditions, in which the plateau phase was longer than the decline phase while lag time was not affected by vacuum level.
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