[en] In dairy farms automatic milking systems and grazing, traffic to the robot is the cornerstone of profitability as higher milking frequency enhances milk yield. In this study, we investigated whether shortening the minimum milking interval (MMI), i.e., the required time between two milkings for an animal to get access to the milking unit, coupled with high concentrate allocation, could increase the daily milking frequency (MF, milking/cow/day) and consequently the milk yield of grazing cows. Two groups of cows (n = 19 and n = 20) belonging to the same herd were discriminated based on concentrate supply (high vs. low: 4 vs. 2 kg/cow/day) and then further divided on the basis of MMI (4 h vs. 6 h) so that four groups were formed (HC4 h–HC6 h–LC4 h and finally LC6 h). Higher concentrate allocation induced a rise in milk yield (MY, kg/cow/day) and allowed to stabilize it in periods of grass shortage but did not influence milking frequency, while shorter MMI (4 h) was correlated with higher MF without effect on MY. A combination of both strategies (4 h and high concentrate) improved the traffic globally to the robot. This result was linked to a reduction of refused milking and, therefore, the decrease in returns to the robot. This strategy could be advised to maximize the system’s efficiency during periods of high milk sales. When the economic conditions do not favour the increase in concentrate supply, short MMI could facilitate the traffic and increase the efficiency of returns.
Disciplines :
Animal production & animal husbandry
Author, co-author :
Lessire, Françoise ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de gestion vétérinaire des Ressources Animales (DRA) > Nutrition des animaux domestiques
Hornick, Jean-Luc ✱; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Productions animales durables
Dufrasne, Isabelle ✱; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Productions animales durables
✱ These authors have contributed equally to this work.
Language :
English
Title :
Effect of Minimum Milking Interval on Traffic and Milk Production of Cows Milked by a Pasture Based Automatic Milking System
Alternative titles :
[fr] Effet de la permission de traite sur la circulation et la production laitère de vaches traites par un robot de traite au pâturage
scite shows how a scientific paper has been cited by providing the context of the citation, a classification describing whether it supports, mentions, or contrasts the cited claim, and a label indicating in which section the citation was made.
Bibliography
Cogato, A.; Brščić, M.; Guo, H.; Marinello, F.; Pezzuolo, A. Challenges and Tendencies of Automatic Milking Systems (AMS): A 20-Years Systematic Review of Literature and Patents. Animals 2021, 11, 356. [CrossRef]
Gargiulo, J.I.; Eastwood, C.R.; Garcia, S.C.; Lyons, N.A. Dairy Farmers with Larger Herd Sizes Adopt More Precision Dairy Technologies. J. Dairy Sci. 2018, 101, 5466–5473. [CrossRef]
Dillon, P.; Roche, J.R.; Shalloo, L.; Oran, B. Optimising Financial Return from Grazing in Temperate Pastures. Utilisation of grazed grass in temperate animal systems. In Proceedings of the a Satellite Workshop of the XXth International Grassland Congress, Cork, Ireland, 26 June–1 July 2005; pp. 131–147.
Lessire, F.; Scohier, C.; Dufrasne, I. Impact of Grazing Practices on Farm Self-Sufficiency, Milk and Economic Performances of Three Automatized Farms. In Proceedings of the 19th Symposium of the European Grassland Federation, Alghero, Italy, 7–10 May 2017; pp. 182–184.
Watt, L.J.; Clark, C.E.F.; Albornoz, R.I.; Krebs, G.L.; Petzel, C.E.; Utsumi, S.A. Effects of Grain-Based Concentrate Feeding and Rumination Frequency on the Milk Production, Methane and Carbon Dioxide Fluxes, and Activity of Dairy Cows in a Pasture-Based Automatic Milking System. Livest. Sci. 2021, 245, 104420. [CrossRef]
de Olde, E.M.; Oudshoorn, F.W.; Sørensen, C.A.G.; Bokkers, E.A.M.; de Boer, I.J.M. Assessing Sustainability at Farm-Level: Lessons Learned from a Comparison of Tools in Practice. Ecol. Indic. 2016, 66, 391–404. [CrossRef]
Naspetti, S.; Mandolesi, S.; Buysse, J.; Latvala, T.; Nicholas, P.; Padel, S.; Van Loo, E.J.; Zanoli, R. Consumer Perception of Sustainable Practices in Dairy Production. Agric. Food Econ. 2021, 9, 1. [CrossRef]
Brocard, V.; Lessire, F.; Cloet, E.; Huneau, T.; Dufrasne, I.; Déprés, C. Diverse Ways to Combine Grazing and Automatic Milking Systems. Fourrages 2017, 229, 17–24.
Lyons, N.A.A.; Kerrisk, K.L.L.; Garcia, S.C.C. Milking Frequency Management in Pasture-Based Automatic Milking Systems: A Review. Livest. Sci. 2014, 159, 102–116. [CrossRef]
Lyons, N.A.; Kerrisk, K.L.; Garcia, S.C. Comparison of 2 Systems of Pasture Allocation on Milking Intervals and Total Daily Milk Yield of Dairy Cows in a Pasture-Based Automatic Milking System. J. Dairy Sci. 2013, 96, 4494–4504. [CrossRef]
O’Brien, B.; Foley, C.; Danilo, S.; Huneau, T.; François, J.; Cloët, E.; Bertrand, S.; Lessire, F.; Dufrasne, I.; Oudshoorn, F.W.; et al. Optimizing Pasture Proportion in Cow Diet in Association with Automatic Milking–Guidelines for Different Countries and Production Systems, 2015.
Cloet, E.; Brocard, V.; Lessire, F.; Guiocheau, S. Maximizing Grazing with a Mobile Milking Robot. In Proceedings of the 8th European Precision Livestock Farming, Nantes, France, 14–17 September 2017; pp. 28–34.
Lyons, N.A.; Kerrisk, K.L.; Dhand, N.K.; Garcia, S.C. Factors Associated with Extended Milking Intervals in a Pasture-Based Automatic Milking System. Livest. Sci. 2013, 158, 179–188. [CrossRef]
Lessire, F.; Froidmont, E.; Shortall, J.; Hornick, J.-L.; Dufrasne, I. The Effect of Concentrate Allocation on Traffic and Milk Production of Pasture Based Cows Milked by an Automatic Milking System. Animal 2017, 11, 2061–2069. [CrossRef]
De Boever, J.L.; Vanacker, J.M.; Fiems, L.O.; De Brabander, D.L. Rumen Degradation Characteristics and Protein Value of Grassland Products and Their Prediction by Laboratory Measurements and NIRS. Anim. Feed. Sci. Technol. 2004, 116, 53–66. [CrossRef]
Bernabucci, U.; Biffani, S.; Buggiotti, L.; Vitali, A.; Lacetera, N.; Nardone, A. The Effects of Heat Stress in Italian Holstein Dairy Cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 2014, 97, 471–486. [CrossRef]
Ouellet, V.; Cabrera, V.E.; Fadul-Pacheco, L.; Charbonneau, É. The Relationship between the Number of Consecutive Days with Heat Stress and Milk Production of Holstein Dairy Cows Raised in a Humid Continental Climate. J. Dairy Sci. 2019, 102, 8537–8545. [CrossRef]
Sharpe, D. Chi Square Test Is Statistically Significant: Now What? Pract. Assess. Res. Eval. 2015, 20, 8. [CrossRef]
Delaby, L.; Peyraud, J.L.; Delagarde, R. Effect of the Level of Concentrate Supplementation, Herbage Allowance and Milk Yield at Turn-out on the Performance of Dairy Cows in Mid Lactation at Grazing. Anim. Sci. 2001, 73, 171–181. [CrossRef]
Shortall, J.; Foley, C.; Sleator, R.D.; O’Brien, B. The Effect of Concentrate Supplementation on Milk Production and Cow Traffic in Early and Late Lactation in a Pasture-Based Automatic Milking System. Animal 2017, 12, 853–863. [CrossRef]
McKay, Z.C.; Lynch, M.B.; Mulligan, F.J.; Rajauria, G.; Miller, C.; Pierce, K.M. The Effect of Concentrate Supplementation Type on Milk Production, Dry Matter Intake, Rumen Fermentation, and Nitrogen Excretion in Late-Lactation, Spring-Calving Grazing Dairy Cows. J. Dairy Sci. 2019, 102, 5042–5053. [CrossRef]
Scott, V.E.E.; Kerrisk, K.L.K.L.; Thomson, P.C.C.P.C.; Lyons, N.A.A.; Garcia, S.C.C.S.C.; Wredle, E.; Munksgaard, L.; Spörndly, E.; Witaifi, A.A.; Ali, A.B.A.; et al. Voluntary Cow Traffic and Behaviour in the Premilking Yard of a Pasture-Based Automatic Milking System with a Feed Supplementation Regime. Livest. Sci. 2015, 171, 52–63. [CrossRef]
Jago, J.G.; Davis, K.L.; Copeman, P.J.; Ohnstad, I.; Woolford, M.M. Supplementary Feeding at Milking and Minimum Milking Interval Effects on Cow Traffic and Milking Performance in a Pasture-Based Automatic Milking System. J. Dairy Res. 2007, 74, 492–499. [CrossRef]
Foley, C.; Shortall, J.; O’Brien, B. Milk Production, Cow Traffic and Milking Duration at Different Milking Frequencies in an Automated Milking System Integrated with Grazing. In Proceedings of the Precision Livestock Farming, Milan, Italy, 15–18 September 2015; Berckmans, D.M.G., Ed.; ECPLF: Milan, Italy, 2015; Volume 15, pp. 40–47.
Ketelaar-De Lauwere, C.C.C.; Ipema, A.H.H.; Lokhorst, C.; Metz, J.H.M.H.M.; Noordhuizen, J.P.T.M.P.T.M.; Schouten, W.G.P.G.P.; Smits, A.C.C. Effect of Sward Height and Distance between Pasture and Barn on Cows’ Visits to an Automatic Milking System and Other Behaviour. Livest. Prod. Sci. 2000, 65, 131–142. [CrossRef]
Scott, V.E.E.; Thomson, P.C.C.; Kerrisk, K.L.L.; Garcia, S.C.C. Influence of Provision of Concentrate at Milking on Voluntary Cow Traffic in a Pasture-Based Automatic Milking System. J. Dairy Sci. 2014, 97, 1481–1490. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Penry, J.F.; Crump, P.M.; Hernandez, L.L.; Reinemann, D.J. Association of Milking Interval and Milk Production Rate in an Automatic Milking System. J. Dairy Sci. 2017, 101, 1616–1625. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Nieman, C.C.; Steensma, K.M.; Rowntree, J.E.; Beede, D.K.; Utsumi, S.A. Differential Response to Stocking Rates and Feeding by Two Genotypes of Holstein-Friesian Cows in a Pasture-Based Automatic Milking System. Animal 2015, 9, 2039–2049. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Van Dooren, H.; Heutinck, L.; Biewenga, G.; Zonderland, J. The Influence of Three Grazing Systems on AMS Performance. In Proceedings of the Automatic Milking: A Better Understanding; Meijering, A., Hogeveen, H., de-Koning, C., Eds.; Wageningen Academic Publishers: Wageningen, The Netherlands, 2004; pp. 292–297.
Spörndly, E.; Wredle, E. Automatic Milking and Grazing—Effects of Distance to Pasture and Level of Supplements on Milk Yield and Cow Behavior. J. Dairy Sci. 2004, 87, 1702–1712. [CrossRef]
Charlton, G.L.; Rutter, S.M. The Behaviour of Housed Dairy Cattle with and without Pasture Access: A Review. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2017, 192, 2–9. [CrossRef]
Ketelaar-de Lauwere, C.C.; Hendriks, M.M.W.B.; Zondag, J.; Ipema, A.H.; Metz, J.H.M.; Noordhuizen, J.P.T.M. Influence of Routing Treatments on Cows’ Visits to an Automatic Milking System, Their Time Budget and Other Behaviour. Acta Agric. Scand. A Anim. Sci. 2000, 50, 174–183. [CrossRef]
Lyons, N.A.; Kerrisk, K.L.; Dhand, N.K.; Scott, V.E.; Garcia, S.C. Animal Behavior and Pasture Depletion in a Pasture-Based Automatic Milking System. Animal 2014, 8, 1506–1515. [CrossRef]
Spörndly, E.; Wredle, E. Automatic Milking and Grazing—Effects of Location of Drinking Water on Water Intake, Milk Yield, and Cow Behavior. J. Dairy Sci. 2005, 88, 1711–1722. [CrossRef]
Lessire, F.; Hornick, J.-L.; Minet, J.; Dufrasne, I. Rumination Time, Milk Yield, Milking Frequency of Grazing Dairy Cows Milked by a Mobile Automatic System during Mild Heat Stress TT–Influence de Périodes de Stress Thermique Modéré Sur Le Temps de Rumination, La Production Laitière et Le Nombre de Trai. Adv. Anim. Biosci. 2015, 6, 12–14. [CrossRef]
Wildridge, A.M.; Thomson, P.C.; Garcia, S.C.; John, A.J.; Jongman, E.C.; Clark, C.E.F.; Kerrisk, K.L. Short Communication: The Effect of Temperature-Humidity Index on Milk Yield and Milking Frequency of Dairy Cows in Pasture-Based Automatic Milking Systems. J. Dairy Sci. 2018, 101, 4479–4482. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Wildridge, A.M.; Garcia, S.C.; Thomson, P.C.; Jongman, E.C.; Clark, C.E.F.; Kerrisk, K.L. The Impact of a Shaded Pre-Milking Yard on a Pasture-Based Automatic Milking System. Anim. Prod. Sci. 2017, 57, 1219–1225. [CrossRef]
Jago, J.; Jackson, A.; Woolford, M. Dominance Effects on the Time Budget and Milking Behaviour of Cows Managed on Pasture and Milked in an Automated Milking System; The New Zealand Society of Animal Production: Queenstown, New Zealand, 2003; Volume 63, pp. 120–123.
Wildridge, A.M.; Thomson, P.C.; Garcia, S.C.; Jongman, E.C.; Clark, C.E.F.; Kerrisk, K.L. The Impact of Fetching at Night on Milking Parlour Visitation for Pasture-Based Dairy Cattle. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2018, 201, 25–30. [CrossRef]
Halachmi, I. Simulating the Hierarchical Order and Cow Queue Length in an Automatic Milking System. Biosyst. Eng. 2009, 102, 453–460. [CrossRef]
This website uses cookies to improve user experience. Read more
Save & Close
Accept all
Decline all
Show detailsHide details
Cookie declaration
About cookies
Strictly necessary
Performance
Strictly necessary cookies allow core website functionality such as user login and account management. The website cannot be used properly without strictly necessary cookies.
This cookie is used by Cookie-Script.com service to remember visitor cookie consent preferences. It is necessary for Cookie-Script.com cookie banner to work properly.
Performance cookies are used to see how visitors use the website, eg. analytics cookies. Those cookies cannot be used to directly identify a certain visitor.
Used to store the attribution information, the referrer initially used to visit the website
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. Websites use cookies to help users navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. Cookies that are required for the website to operate properly are allowed to be set without your permission. All other cookies need to be approved before they can be set in the browser.
You can change your consent to cookie usage at any time on our Privacy Policy page.
