Milkability evaluation of Holstein dairy cows by Lactocorder

• Published in: Journal of agrobiology Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 139 - 146
• Main Authors: Strapak, P., Slovenska Polnohospodarska Univ., Nitra (Slovak Republic). Fakulta Agrobiologie a Potravinovych Zdrojov, Antalik, P., Slovenska Polnohospodarska Univ., Nitra (Slovak Republic). Fakulta Agrobiologie a Potravinovych Zdrojov, Szencziova, I., Slovenska Polnohospodarska Univ., Nitra (Slovak Republic). Fakulta Agrobiologie a Potravinovych Zdrojov
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ceské Budejovice Versita 01.01.2011; De Gruyter Poland
• Subjects: APTITUD AL ORDENO; APTITUDE A LA TRAITE; bimodality; CONTEO DE CELULAS SOMATICAS; COW MILK; DAIRY COWS; DEBIT; FLOW RATE; GASTO; Holstein breed; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_15998; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_16080; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_26767; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_26800; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_26869; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2989; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_33554; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4140; LACTACION; LACTATION; LACTATION NUMBER; lactocorder; LAIT DE VACHE; LECHE DE VACA; MILK YIELD; MILKABILITY; NUMERATION CELLULAIRE SOMATIQUE; NUMERO DE LACTACION; NUMERO DE LACTATION; RENDEMENT LAITIER; RENDIMIENTO LECHERO; SOMATIC CELL COUNT; VACAS LECHERAS; VACHE LAITIERE
• ISSN: 1803-4403; 1804-2686
• DOI: 10.2478/v10146-011-0015-6

The aim of this work was to evaluate chosen milk flow characteristics of Holstein dairy cows, using mobile electronic milk flow meters - Lactocorders. A total of 181 Holstein dairy cows were evaluated and divided according to parity, lactation stage and bimodality in order to carry out a detailed comparison of measured milkability traits. The average total milk yield was 11.98+/-3.41 kg per milking with an average milk flow rate of 2.52+/-0.75 kg/min and a maximum milk flow rate of 3.94+/-1.30 kg/min. The total milk yield showed positive correlations with the average milk flow rate (r = 0.48; P less than 0.001) and also with the maximum milk flow rate (r = 0.32; P less than 0.001). More than 47% of milk flow curves were classified as bimodal. Bimodality was positively correlated with the duration of the incline phase (r = 0.73; P less than 0.001) and negatively correlated with the quantity of milk obtained during the first minute of milking (r = -0.34; P less than 0.001). In relation to the lactation stage - the highest average milk flow rate was reached by Holstein dairy cows at the beginning of the lactation (up to 100 days in milk), and in relation to parity - the highest milk flow rates were measured in second lactation dairy cows.