Effect of automatic cluster remover settings on production, udder health, and milking duration

This study evaluated the effect of 4 criteria for determining the end-point of milking on milk yield, milk composition, completeness of milking-out, teat skin condition, somatic cell count (SCC), and the incidence of clinical mastitis (CM) in pasture-based dairy cows milked over 35 wk. The objective was to reduce milking duration without affecting milk production, SCC, or CM. Milking end-point treatments were as follows: cluster removed at a milk flow rate of 0.2 kg/min (ACR200); cluster removed at a milk flow rate of 0.4 kg/min (ACR400); cluster removed at a milk flow rate of 0.2 kg/min or at a maximum cluster attachment time from d 5 of lactation (MaxTEarly); and cluster removed at a milk flow rate of 0.2 kg/min until an average of 63+/-21 d in milk, then cluster removed at a milk flow rate of 0.2 kg/min or a maximum cluster attachment time (MaxTPeak). Maximum cluster attachment times were set at 7.5 min and 5.4 min for morning and afternoon milkings, respectively. Cows (approximately 94/treatment) were assigned to treatment at calving and milked twice daily at intervals of 9 and 15 h. Milking duration was shorter for ACR400, MaxTEarly, and MaxTPeak compared with ACR200. During wk 1 to 15, milk, protein, and lactose yields were less for MaxTEarly than for ACR400 and MaxTPeak, but not different from ACR200. During wk 16 to 35 and over the entire experiment, total milk, fat, protein, and lactose yields did not differ among treatments. Teat condition did not differ among the 4 treatments. Postmilking strip yield in wk 12 was greatest for MaxTEarly and least for ACR200; at wk 27, however, treatment had no effect on the completeness of milking-out. No differences were observed in either teat condition or the proportion of cows with at least 1 case of CM during the 35 wk. Somatic cell count was low across all treatments, but highest for ACR400. Increasing the automatic cluster remover threshold setting from 0.2 to 0.4 kg/min decreased milking duration without affecting milk production, CM, or teat condition. Combining a cluster removal milk flow threshold setting with a maximum cluster attachment time, when applied from either early lactation or from peak lactation, reduced milking duration without affecting milk production, CM, or SCC. Both strategies have potential to improve milking efficiency in dairy herds in which premilking preparation is minimal.