The effect of using quarter individual milking system “MultiLactor” on improvement of milk performance and milk quality of different dairy cows breeds in different farms

Abstract

Milking machine is an important factor in milk performance and milk quality during the course of milk removal in dairy cows. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of using quarter individual milking system “MultiLactor” (ML) on improvement of milk performance and milk quality of different dairy cows breeds in different farms. A quarter individual Milking system ML has a single guided tubes with a vacuum of 34 kPa, pulsation rate of 60 cycle/min and ration of 60 to 40%. The system has also a periodic air inlet and a sequential pulsation. In this study, milking data were collected from 170 Holstein Friesian cows (Farm 1), 130 Holstein Friesian (red) cows (Farm 2) and 54 Brown Swiss cows (Farm 3). Quantitative and qualitative milk data of these farms have been recorded by Association of milk records, Switzerland. The primary milking data of cows were collected during the period from 2010 to 2015 after using the new milking system. The data were later processed with Excel program and analyzed using the statistical analysis system (SAS). The results are presented as least square means with standard errors (LSM±SE) and the significant difference was set at (P<0.05).  The daily milk yield during the study period from 2010 to 2015 increased significantly to 117% (from 34.64±1.23 to 40.51±1.00 kg/day/animal), 162% (from 20.29±1.37 to 30.88±0.65 kg/day/animal) and 151% (from 15.04±0.83 to 22.71±0.54 kg/day/animal) in farms 1, 2 and 3 respectively after using of ML milking system. Fat and protein content of the milk also increased during the same period of three breeds and farms. However, the results showed that the milking system ML had significant effects on the udder health status by reducing continuously somatic cell count (SCC) in milk by 54.81%, 51.54% and 51.66% in farm 1, 2 and 3 respectively during the study period. Furthermore, Lactation number of the cows were continuously increased in the study during the same period. In conclusion, after 5 years of using ML, it has been shown that a quarter individual milking machine was adapted to the physiological requirements of dairy farms and different breeds and the milk removal with ML brings better quantity and quality of milk in terms of improved milk performance, fat %, protein % and lower number of SCC in the milk.