Frequency and its influence on derivative and metabolic characteristics of cows

Abstract

Increasing milking frequency can increase milk production in cows by 15-20%, and increased milking frequency can affect different mechanisms of secretion and metabolic activity of the udder. In practice, cows are best milked twice a day with an average interval between two milkings of 12 hours, and in practice it is the most common range of 8-16 hours. It was shown that a 12-hour interval between two milkings was good for high-yielding cows, with a steady increase in milk production during the first half of lactation. An extended interval between two milkings will lead to inhibition of lactation with a consequent decrease in the amount of milk produced. Increasing the milking frequency of dairy cattle to more than two milkings per day results in an increase in milk production. Milking three times a day leads to an increase in milk production of 3 to 39% compared to milking twice. One of the most obvious effects as a result of increased milking frequency is the mobilization of body reserves. The primary mechanism leading to this is lipolysis. As a result of lipolysis, there is an increase in the concentration of NEFA and BHB in the blood plasma or serum with a decrease in the assessed body condition of the cows, and the mentioned changes are considered a typical response to an increase in milking frequency. The tests showed a significant decrease in the body condition score in cows that were milked six times compared to cows that were milked three times. Increased lipolysis and ketogenesis lead to a metabolic response and adaptation of cows, and these changes can sometimes lead to an increase in metabolic diseases in cow herds.