An efficient milking routine means a near-constant flow of cows in and out of the dairy, with milking clusters attached to cows as soon as they are in milking position, then removed as soon as possible after they are milked out.
The backing gate
Effective use of the backing gate means milkers do not need to go into the yard to bring cows into the dairy. The backing gate is not a bulldozer – it simply takes up space. Using the gate little and often is the goal.
Backing gate controls should be easily accessible at cups-on or in the pit. Setting the gate to operate on a timer that restricts forward movement to five-second intervals can prevent over-use while allowing milkers to “set and forget”.
Cow flow
Managing cow flow can be both an art and a science. The presence or absence of stockmanship can contribute to both flow and milk let-down – a consistently calm manner goes a long way. Adrenaline – a by-product of the flight or fight response – blocks oxytocin, the hormone responsible for milk letdown, for up to 30 minutes.
Entry design can also affect cow flow. If the entry design obscures the cow in front from view, the next cow will be reluctant to follow. In a herringbone, poorly placed step-up or a change in surface angle will create hesitation.
Changes in light levels can also cause hesitation, such as when cows move from a sunny outside yard into the darker indoor environment. Sharp, dark shadows can be interpreted as barriers.
Entry races mean cows can’t be bullied by other cows, so less dominant cows are more likely to enter of their own accord. They also mean cows will enter single-file, with a typical entry race 760-820mm wide and one or two cow lengths (2m-4m) long.
Max T
Maximum milk out time (Max T) is a milking regime researched and developed by DairyNZ to boost milking efficiency. Cows are milked to one of two predetermined end points – either a predetermined flow rate or a maximum allowable milking duration. Research by DairyNZ showed no loss of milk yield and no increase in the risk of mastitis or increased somatic cell count when Max T was applied after peak lactation.
The premise for Max T is basic physiology. Milk is held in two compartments of the udder. The cistern, a bag above the teat, holds about 20% of the milk, and the alveoli, the cells where the milk is made, hold the remaining 80%. When clusters are attached, the milk harvested in the first few minutes is from the cistern; then the milk ejection or let-down reflex is triggered. This causes the remaining milk to move from the alveoli into the cistern where it can be harvested by the machine.
Removing the cups “early” through the Max T system might mean there is more milk being held in the cistern, left over from the previous milking. As this milk is harvested immediately at the next milking, without waiting for milk letdown, there is no net loss in milk production or increase in cell count. Essentially, the residual milk is retained to the next milking where it can be harvested more efficiently.
Max T is designed for farmers who want to improve the number of cows they milk in an hour, but are limited by the size of the dairy or the time it takes to milk out cows. DairyNZ has a milking efficiency calculator that allows you to estimate any improvements that can be made by applying Max T.
For more about Max T milking, check out www.dairynz.co.nz/milking/in-the-dairy/max-t/
Slow milking cows
Waiting for a single slow-milking cow can hold up a whole row of cows in a herringbone or take up a milking position on a second trip around in a rotary. While the Max T milking regime brings some resolution, there should be additional plans in place for excessively slow milking cows.
Clearly marking slow-milking cows means in a herringbone situation milkers can put the cups on early and remove them last. Using weights on the cluster can cause over-milking so they should be used with caution. In a split-herd system faster milking cows can go in one herd and the slower cows in another.
Ultimately, milking rate is strongly inherited, unless it’s caused by teat damage. Culling persistent offenders or at least not retaining replacements from them, will eventually remove the genetics from the herd. Some farmers stop cows going around twice on herd test day to avoid being misled by a high-yielding, slow-milking cow.
Information from DairyNZ www.dairynz.co.nz
Some tips for more efficient milking
- Have frequently used equipment like tail paint, teat conditioner and Rapid Mastitis Testers stored in an easily accessible place.
- Operator controls (backing gates, platform start-stop, speed) should be kept simple and easily accessible.
- Use buzzers and lights to signal things like washdown pump activity, backing gate operation, and vat inlet on dump.
- Be smart about hosing down during milking. In a herringbone, hose down the side that the cows are milking on, being careful not to splash water on udders or clusters.
- Don’t start changing clusters too early in the row in a herringbone – spend that extra time filling the row properly.
- In a rotary, milkers should keep their backs to the cows coming on the platform.
Cutting out the noise
Milking might be an unavoidable task but as well as more efficient routines to cut down the time invested, the dairy environment can be modified to make the job safer and less tiring.
Exposure to continuous or intermittent loud noise is stressful and tiring in the dairy, and can also be a health and safety issue. Regulation 11 in the Health and Safety in Employment Act requires employers to take all practicable steps to ensure that no employee is exposed to more than eight hours each day and 40 hours each week of noise that averages 85 dB, or a peak noise level of 140 dB regardless of whether hearing protection is used.
Vacuum pumps and regulators can be a problem so if buying new choose something quiet. Noise levels can be reduced at the milking platform by enclosing and insulating the area where the vacuum pump sits. Turning up the radio to cover the noise does not count as a solution. Another strategy is to reduce the time people are exposed to noise by rotating milking staff.
Source: DairyNZ www.dairynz.co.nz
