SPECIAL REPORT | FLEXIBLE MILKING
Fat yield
B 21.2
B 21.7
Protein yield
A 23.1
1.0 Protein yield (kg/cow/d)
Milk yield (kg/cow/d)
By Elaine Fisher
20
C 18.5
B 20.9
15 10
5
0.8
C 0.69
B 0.76
B 0.77
B 0.80
A 0.84
A 1.12
A 1.11
A 1.13
?
A 1.06
0.6 0.4
Milksolids yield
0.2
?
A 20% A A Aof the could2.5 also suit some A 1.88 1.93 1.90 ~1.96 1.82 1.89 2.0 Fat yield
TAD from regression
Fat yield (kg/cow/d)
TAD from regression
MS yield (kg/cow/d)
Protein yield (kg/cow/d)
Milk yield (kg/cow/d)
Treatment results
MS yield (kg/cow/d)
the lactation, and 8% of herds were on full MS/cow. It 0 0.0 ?cow season once-a-day milking (OAD).” of the industry in the 301-350kg/MS A A A A 1.4 A 1.5 1.13 1.12 1.11 1.13 1.06 ~1.12 1.2 hanging traditional times of milking Within the national herd on TAD, 14% range. 1.0 0.8 not only creates more flexibility for switched to OAD from Christmas and a OAD would be1.0 harder to justify for 0.6 0.5 0.4 Milk yield Protein yield A farmers and staff but may also serve further but 14% went OAD in 25lateinsignificant lactation. higher producing herds and farms with B 0.2 B A B Small statistically 23.1 1.0cost to B B B 0.0 C 0.840.0 20.9 21.2 21.7 C 0.80 0.76 0.77 to to attract newcomers to the industry, says Then 3in2 was used for 6%20 of18.5herds from less ability reduce costs because of, 0.8 0.69 more attractive 3-in-2 milking times 0.6 Paul Edwards, DairyNZ senior farm systems Christmas and for another155% from late for example, the expense of irrigation or 10 0.4 Milksolids yield scientist. lactation. interest. ? 5 0.2 A 2.5 A A A A “Can we adapt milking times to create This demonstrated that flexible milking However, 3in2 could potentially 1.90 ~1.96 1.82 1.89 1.88 1.93 play 0 0.0 2.0 1.5 a workplace that will attract people, strategies were not uncommon, and worth a beneficial role in New Zealand farm 1.0 particularly the next generation of young considering for many farms Edwards said. systems. To find out if0.5 it could, DairyNZ 13 Small but statistically insignificant cost to 0.0 people who may want to work on farms?” Full season OAD offered the ultimate in is, through the Sustainable Farming Fund, more attractive 3-in-2 milking times was among the questions Edwards put to flexibility and was well suited to the 20 to into the second year of a three-year project the 50 farmers who attended the SMASH 25% of farms that produce under 300kg called Flexible Milking. (Smaller Milk and Supply Herds), field day 13 near Te Aroha in November. Long hours of work, especially around the busy times of mating and calving, combined with traditional twice-a-day TAD 10-14 h interval 3in2 of options OAD Plenty (TAD) milking were often seen as a e.g. 5am and 3pm • Could use flexible staff e.g. • Milk any time during negative for employees or career seekers TAD 10-14 h interval 3in2 OAD outsource a milking the day e.g. 5am and 3pm • Could (+) use flexible staff e.g. • Milk any (+) time during • Conventional wanting more flexibility and work-life outsource a milking (+) the day (+) • Conventional • Less consistency e.g. between • Increases pool of • Less consistency e.g. between • Increases pool of balance. TAD 8-16 h interval days and weeksdays (-) and weeks (-) people available TAD 8-16 h interval people available (+) (+) However, dairy farmers used to the TAD • 25% fewer milkings (+) e.g. 6am and 2pm • 25% fewer milkings (+) e.g. 6am and 2pm • Later start or earlier model were often reluctant to consider 10in7 (3in2 - OAD weekend) finish (+) • Later start or earlier • OAD weekends (+) changing, fearing it may lead to a drop in weekend) • Can10in7 mean less (3in2 done in - OAD finish (+) a day (-) • Consistent weeks (+) production or increased risk of mastitis. • volume OAD weekends (+) of milk to • 29% fewer milkings (+) • Can mean less done in • Large harvest in the morning = Edwards said a recent survey showed a day (-) weeks (+) need• goodConsistent milking routine that 45% of the national herd was TAD, • Large volume of milk to • 29% fewer milkings (+) harvest in the morning = meaning it was no longer the norm. “Last need good milking year 14% of herds were on 3in2, milking routine 14 three times in two days for part of the lactation; 31% were on OAD for part of
C
~1.12
TAD from regression
times to attract staff Milk yield
25
Fat yield (kg/cow/d)
Treatment results
A 1.13
1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0
TAD from regression
FLEXIBLE MILKING
Plenty of options
7
14
45
