Milking performance evaluation and factors affecting milking claw vacuum levels with flow simulator

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Animal Husbandry
• Dairy Farming Technology

Background:

• Effective milking machine performance is vital for dairy cow health, especially for high-producing animals.
• Suboptimal milking can increase the risk of mastitis, a significant concern in modern dairy operations.
• Matching machine function to cow production capability is key to preventing udder infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the milking performance of dairy farm milking systems using a simulated milking device.
• To identify factors influencing claw vacuum levels and fluctuations in commercial dairy settings.
• To assess the suitability of current milking systems for high-producing dairy cows and mastitis risk reduction.

Main Methods:

• A simulated milking device was employed to assess 73 dairy farms' milking systems.
• Claw vacuum and its fluctuation range were measured at three distinct milk flow rates (5.7, 7.6, and 8.7 kg/min).
• Statistical analysis identified factors affecting mean claw vacuum and claw vacuum range.

Main Results:

• Only 21.9% of farms met recommended standards for mean claw vacuum (≥35 kPa) and vacuum range (≤7 kPa) at the highest flow rate.
• Milking system performance was found to be inadequate in a majority of assessed farms.
• Claw type, milk-meter, and vacuum shut-off devices influenced mean claw vacuum, while claw type affected vacuum range.

Conclusions:

• Current milking systems often exhibit poor performance, failing to meet optimal standards for high-producing cows.
• Inappropriate claw vacuum levels and fluctuations are linked to milking system deficiencies.
• Evaluating milking system performance with simulated devices can help identify risks for mastitis and guide improvements.