Physiological Justification of Udder Emptying in Highly Productive Cows

Abstract

This study encompasses to measure frequency of physiologically motivated emptying the udder by Holstein cows during lactation. With the recording of the hours of the day, the experiment shows that the first-born cows emptied the udder, on average, almost three times a day, the cows having second lactation emptied 2.5 times a day, and cows having 3rd and 4th lactations emptied udder three or more times a day. Analysis of the daily attending a robotic milking machine during lactation by first-born cows showed that the visitation frequency was relatively even, except for the maximum peaks from 11.00 to 12.00 o’clock and from 21.00 to 23.00 o’clock. Similarly, among the cows of the 2nd lactation there were two maximum peaks of milking or udder emptying – at night from 22.00 to 1.00 o'clock and in the day from 12.00 to 17.00 o'clock. For cows having 3rd lactation, there were two maximum peaks of udder emptying - one from 21.00 to 1.00 o'clock at night, and the second from 12.00 to 17.00 o'clock in the afternoon. Cows under 4th lactation had three relatively high maxima: the first from 1.00 to 4.00 o'clock at night, the second from 10.00 to 12.00 o'clock in the afternoon, and the third from 18.00 to 22.00 o'clock at night. This study concludes that high milk productivity of cows needs emptying (milking) of the udder at least three times a day. Since almost a third of udder emptying occurs at night, at that time it is necessary to provide animals with adequate water and feed on the feed table.