Periodic omission of dairy cow milkings: I. Effect on milk yield and composition and on udder health

Abstract

Summary: Forty-five Friesian cows were assigned to one of 3 milking management treatments: (1) cows milked 14 times weekly, (2) cows milked 13 times weekly (Wednesday morning milking omitted), and (3) cows milked 12 times weekly (Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning milkings omitted). Cows were removed from the trial at the end of their lactations, and newly calved cows were added as they became available. The trial was continued for 12 months.When one milking was omitted weekly, the total lactational milk yield was reduced by 3·5%, fat yield by 2% and protein yield by 1·5%. These reductions were not statistically significant. When 2 consecutive milkings were omitted, the yield of milk and of its main components was reduced by 14% (P < 0·001). The effects were greatest for highly productive cows in early lactation.When one or 2 milkings were omitted the milk yield on the following day was nearly 50% greater than the mean daily yield. No increase in the incidence of subclinioal mastitis was observed in either milking omission treatment.It is concluded that it is practicable to omit one milking each week though it is suggested that the technique should not be used in highly productive herds unless most of the cows are past the sixth week of lactation.