Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T13:20:31.135Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The effect of various automatic cluster removal switch-point settings on milking and overmilking duration and total, peak and overmilking claw vacuum in dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 September 2022

Pieter Vermaak
Affiliation:
Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Old Soutpan Road, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
Inge-Marie Petzer
Affiliation:
Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Old Soutpan Road, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
Alen Dzidic
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
Joanne Karzis*
Affiliation:
Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Old Soutpan Road, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
*
Author for correspondence: Joanne Karzis, Email: [email protected]

Abstract

This research communication describes the effect of three automatic cluster removal (ACR) switch-point settings on machine-on time, overmilking duration, and the mean, peak-flow and overmilking vacuums. The objective was to reduce the overmilking and milking time, attaining a lower mean claw vacuum during overmilking. In a randomised experiment, 25 cows were subjected to three ACR switch-point settings at flow rates of 0.840 kg/min, 0.630 kg/min and 0.504 kg/min each for 15 morning-milkings. Pre-milking preparations and cow comfort were observed and evaluated, showing evidence that the switch-point setting of 0.840 kg/ml denoted the least proportion of behavioural problems (1.1% ± 0.6) compared to the settings at 0.640 kg/ml (16.0% ± 2.2) and 0.504 kg/ml (9.4% ± 1.7). A VaDia device (Biocontrol) determined the machine-on time and vacuum levels at the claw, mouthpiece and pulsator chamber. The machine-on time varied from 290 ± 72.8 (mean ± sd) to 289 ± 64.4 and 303 ± 66.3 for the 0.840, 0.630 and 0.504 kg/min settings, respectively. Overmilking was shortened by 29.3% and 26.4% and the claw vacuum during overmilking was reduced by 3.7 kPa and 4.3 kPa when using the 0.840 kg/min switch-point setting, compared to the others. An increased cluster-removal milk flow threshold reduced both overmilking and vacuum level during overmilking, lowering the risk of teat damage. Adapting ACR switch-point settings offers a valuable opportunity to increase parlour efficiency and cow comfort in dairy herds.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © University of Pretoria and University of Zagreb, 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Hannah Dairy Research Foundation

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ambord, S and Bruckmaier, RM (2010) Milk flow-dependent vacuum loss in high-line milking systems: effects on milking characteristics and teat tissue condition. Journal of Dairy Science 93, 35883594.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Besier, J and Bruckmaier, RM (2016) Vacuum levels and milk-flow-dependent vacuum drops affect machine milking performance and teat condition in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 99, 30963102.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boloña, PS, Upton, J and Reinemann, DJ (2020) Effects of simulated quarter and udder teat cup removal settings on strip milk and milking duration in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 103, 44464454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cerqueira, JOL, Araújo, JPP, Blanco-Penedo, I, Cantalapiedra, J, Sørensen, JT and Niza-Ribeiro, JJR (2017) Relationship between stepping and kicking behavior and milking management in dairy cattle herds. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 19, 7277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ginsberg, R, Dzidic, A, Rasmussen, MD, Poulet, J-L, Manninen, E, Sigurdsson, S, Tančin, V and Bruckmaie, R (2018) Teat-cup and cluster removal strategies for cattle and small ruminants. Bulletin of the International Dairy Federation May 2018 Brussels Belgium 491, 1140.Google Scholar
Hillerton, E, Pankey, JW and Pankey, P (2002) Effect of overmilking on teat condition. Journal of Dairy Research 69, 8184.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jago, JG, Burke, JL and Williamson, JH (2010) Effect of automatic cluster remover settings on production, udder health, and milking duration. Journal of Dairy Science 93, 25412549.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rasmussen, MD and Madsen, NP (2000) Effects of milkline vacuum, pulsator airline vacuum and cluster weight on milk yield, teat condition, and udder health. Journal of Dairy Science 83, 7784.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rasmussen, MD, Wiking, L, Bjerring, M and Larsen, HC (2006) Influence of air intake on the concentration of free fatty acids and vacuum fluctuations during automatic milking. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 45964605.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tančin, V, Ipema, B, Hogewerf, P and Mačuhová, J (2006) Sources of variation in milk flow characteristics at udder and quarter levels. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 978988.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Supplementary material: PDF

Vermaak et al. supplementary material

Vermaak et al. supplementary material

Download Vermaak et al. supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 203.4 KB