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A systems comparison of once- versus twice-daily milking of pastured dairy cows.

Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare the effect of milking frequency (once vs. twice-daily milking) and breed (Holstein-Friesians vs. Jerseys) on milk and milk solids (MS; milk fat + milk protein), yield per cow, milk composition, somatic cell count and lactation length; cow body weight, body condition score, and reproductive performance over a 4-yr period. Total cow numbers in each herd were 30, 35, 36, and 42 for Holstein-Friesians milked once or twice daily, and Jerseys milked once or twice daily, respectively. Forty hectares of pasture were subdivided into 4 smaller pastures of 10 ha each. Stocking rates for the once-daily herds were 16.7% greater than the twice-daily herd in their respective breed. An increased stocking rate was chosen to achieve equal milk and MS per ha from the 2 milking frequencies. Annual milk, fat, protein, and lactose yields per cow were less for once-daily than for twice-daily milking. Interactions were detected between milking frequency and breed for annual milk, fat, protein, and lactose yields per cow, because Jerseys were relatively less affected by once-daily than by twice-daily milking than Holstein-Friesians. Holstein-Friesian cows milked once daily produced 31.2% less milk and 29.4% less MS per cow than their twice-daily counterparts. In contrast, Jersey cows milked once daily produced 22.1% less milk and 19.9% less MS per cow than their twice-daily counterparts. Milk per ha was 17.7 and 9% less for the once-daily Holstein-Friesians and once-daily Jersey herds, respectively, compared with their twice-daily counterparts, because the greater stocking rate for the once-daily herds did not fully compensate for the milk loss per cow. Milking once daily increased somatic cell count throughout the year in both breeds. Cows milked once daily conceived 3 d earlier, took 5 d less from calving to conception, and needed 11% fewer controlled internal drug release devices than those milked twice daily. Milking once daily is a viable milking option for New Zealand farmers who are prepared to trade-off loss of MS income for increased time to accomplish other non-milking activities.
AuthorsD A Clark, C V C Phyn, M J Tong, S J Collis, D E Dalley
JournalJournal of dairy science (J Dairy Sci) Vol. 89 Issue 5 Pg. 1854-62 (May 2006) ISSN: 1525-3198 [Electronic] United States
PMID16606757 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Fats
  • Milk Proteins
  • Lactose
Topics
  • Animals
  • Body Composition
  • Body Weight
  • Cattle (physiology)
  • Cell Count
  • Dairying (methods)
  • Diet
  • Fats (analysis)
  • Female
  • Lactation
  • Lactose (analysis)
  • Milk (chemistry, cytology)
  • Milk Proteins (analysis)
  • Pregnancy

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