Dairy Exporter January 2021

Page 49

SPECIAL REPORT | FLEXIBLE MILKING

UDDER intervals explained By Anne Lee

T

he idea of flexible milking times to create a three milkings over 48 hours schedule stems from an understanding of what’s going on at an udder level in terms of milk, fat and protein yield. Research from the 1950s and 60s showed that milk accumulates in an approximately linear fashion until 16 hours after the last milking and after that it begins to decline. Based on that information early adopters of the 3in2 milkings schedule stuck rigidly to the 16-hour milking intervals with milking carried out about 5am and 9pm on day one followed by only one milking the next day at 1pm. This achieved a reduction in total

Milk, fat and protein yields at varying milking intervals

Inside the mammary gland.

milkings without unduly penalising milk production but the night milking was often unpopular. Over time farmers evolved this to where a 12-18-18 hour interval is the most common. But the 12-hour interval can still make for a long day which is why DairyNZ added two more attractive times in year two of its flexible milking project to compare with OAD and TAD. The three-in-two intervals included: • 12-18-18 hours • 10-19-19 hours • 8-20-20 hours The rate of milk accumulation in terms of milk yield in the study followed a similar linear pattern as earlier studies with the decline coming in at milkings with longer intervals – beyond 16 hours. Protein composition followed a similar

Milk, fat and protein yields at three different 3in2 milking intervals

Milk Yield

Fat

Milk

trend to milk yield but fat continued at the same rate in a linear fashion showing no sign of declining even at the longer intervals tested. There was a small but statistically insignificant difference in milksolids production between the three different 3in 2 intervals, indicating farmers can be more flexible in setting their milking times. There was a small cost to both fat and total milk yield when there were consecutive long milking intervals. Based on that knowledge farmers could consider altering milking times slightly so instead of even intervals in the longer situation the shorter interval could be followed by a slightly longer interval than the next - 8-22-18 for example - although this has not been investigated.

Fat

Protein

Milksolids

Protein Intervals in hours

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Collars mean connected cows

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page 80

Are supplements right for your farm?

5min
pages 78-79

No sign of SARA

3min
page 77

The development trap

3min
page 76

Sleep: Combat the voice inside your head

6min
pages 74-75

Emissions: The climate neutrality question

5min
pages 64-65

Technology: Ears to the ground

8min
pages 70-72

Vet Voice: Summer and photosensitivity

3min
page 73

Environment plans driving change

4min
pages 62-63

Freshwater: Ministers get regulations advice

4min
pages 60-61

Udder intervals explained

2min
page 49

Know your GHG numbers

5min
pages 58-59

Common questions farmers ask

2min
page 48

En route to farm ownership

14min
pages 38-42

Times to attract new staff

11min
pages 45-47

E350 Farming’s new generation leaders

7min
pages 34-37

Exploring the potential of bananas

6min
pages 30-33

Anne-Marie Wells believes good bosses breed good workers

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West Coast: Cash flows following Yili purchase

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pages 22-25

Lending flexibility needed

4min
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Fixing milk price

6min
pages 28-29

Global Dairy: Clues to UK’s post-Brexit dairy future emerge

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pages 20-21

Alex Lond is a convert to Max T

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Carla Staples considers the highs and lows of 2020’s second half

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Niall McKenzie gets a doctor’s check-up

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