Abstract #T196
Section: Production, Management and the Environment (posters)
Session: Production, Management, and Environment II
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Tuesday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Exhibit Hall A
Session: Production, Management, and Environment II
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Tuesday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Exhibit Hall A
# T196
A comparison of milk yield and milking frequency of primiparous versus multiparous cows in robotic milking systems.
Mateus Peiter*1, Maximiliano H. O. Pasetti2, Jim A. Salfer3, Marcia I. Endres1, 1University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 2University of São Paulo-ESALQ, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, 3University of Minnesota Extension, St. Cloud, MN.
Key Words: robotic milking, milk yield, milking frequency
A comparison of milk yield and milking frequency of primiparous versus multiparous cows in robotic milking systems.
Mateus Peiter*1, Maximiliano H. O. Pasetti2, Jim A. Salfer3, Marcia I. Endres1, 1University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 2University of São Paulo-ESALQ, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, 3University of Minnesota Extension, St. Cloud, MN.
The objective of this study was to compare daily milk yield and milking frequency (number of milkings/d) of primiparous (LACT 1) and multiparous (LACT 2+) cows in a robotic milking system (RMS) at various stages of lactation. Data were collected daily for 2016 and from May–Nov 2017 from a case study farm that implemented training of nulliparous animals to the RMS in Jan 2017. Training was performed 2×/d for 15 d prepartum by physically bringing them to the RMS milking station. Ten stages (S) of lactation were evaluated: 1–7 (S1), 8–14 (S2), 15–21 (S3), 22–30 (S4), 31–60 (S5), 61–90 (S6), 91–150 (S7), 151–210 (S8), 211–270 (S9), and 271–330 (S10) DIM (S1, S3, S5, S10 are reported). Data were analyzed within year using PROC MIXED (SAS 9.4), with stage of lactation and parity as fixed effects and cow as random. Daily milk yield in 2016 (n = 82,466 cow-d) was greater for LACT 2+ cows for most lactation stages but not late lactation; an S × LACT interaction was detected (P < 0.001). Milk yield (LACT 1 and 2+, respectively) was 18.7 and 28.1 kg (S1); 29.8 and 46.1 kg (S3); 35.5 and 52.2 kg (S5); 28.5 and 27.7 kg (S10). Daily milk yield in 2017 (n = 69,178 cow-d) followed a similar pattern with an S × LACT interaction detected (P < 0.001). Milk yield (LACT 1 and 2+, respectively) was 19.3 and 29.6 kg (S1); 32.4 and 47.6 kg (S3); 38.2 and 53.8 kg (S5); 29.7 and 29.5 kg (S10). Milking frequency in 2016 was greater for LACT 2+ cows most of lactation but not late lactation; an S × LACT interaction was detected (P < 0.001). Number of milkings/d (LACT 1 and 2+, respectively) was 1.94 and 2.47 (S1); 2.18 and 3.37 (S3); 2.37 and 3.05 (S5); 2.36 and 2.15 (S10). In 2017, LACT 1 cows had a higher milking frequency than LACT 2+ cows starting at S5, whereas in 2016 this only occurred at S9. Number of milkings/d (LACT 1 and 2+, respectively) was 2.13 and 2.71 (S1); 2.98 and 3.61 (S3); 3.45 and 3.44 (S5); 2.45 and 2.39 (S10). It appears that this change in management may result in improved primiparous cow performance in RMS. However, further research with a more direct comparison is warranted.
Key Words: robotic milking, milk yield, milking frequency
