Effect of low light intensity at night on cow traffic in automatic milking systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1784
Author(s):  
Fanny Hjalmarsson ◽  
Ingemar Olsson ◽  
Sabine Ferneborg ◽  
Sigrid Agenäs ◽  
Emma Ternman
Keyword(s):  
Light Intensity ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Milking Frequency ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Automatic Milking Systems ◽  
Reduced Light

Several studies have shown benefits of long-day (16 h) photoperiod in lactating dairy cows, but have not identified a suitable light intensity for the dark hours. It is known that the locomotion pattern of dairy cows is altered at low light intensities and this may translate to reduced cow traffic and milking frequency, which would have a negative impact on system productivity. However, it is also recognised that a significant disturbance of rest may have a negative impact on the health and productivity of high-yielding dairy cows. This study examined the effect of three different night-time light intensities (LOW: 11 ± 3, MED: 33 ± 1 and HIGH: 74 ± 6 lx) on number of gate passages, milking frequency and milk yield in dairy cows in automatic milking systems. The study was conducted in Sweden during the winter of 2012–13 and the treatments were applied in a crossover design to three herds with an automatic milking system. Minimum day time light intensity was 158 lx. Data on gate passages, milking frequency and milk yield for 172 ± 49 (mean ± s.d.) cows during the last 22 days of each 34-day study period were analysed for treatment differences and differences in daily distribution over 24 h, during day time and night time. Light intensity did not affect total number of gate passages per 24-h period and cow, but number of gate passages per hour and cow was in all treatments lower during night time than during day time. Milking frequency was increased in MED compared with both HIGH and LOW (P < 0.05). Milk yield decreased with reduced light intensity, and differed significantly between HIGH and LOW treatments, 45 ± 1 kg and 44 ± 1 kg, respectively (P < 0.001). Our conclusion is that reducing light intensity to 11 lx at night time does not affect cows’ general activity as gate passages remained the same for all treatments. However, milk yield decreased with reduced light intensity, which might be related to a lower feed intake. We argue that providing night light for dairy cows, as required by many welfare acts, might be related to production level rather than welfare aspects and that the recommendations should be revised.

scholarly journals Testing the application of an automatic milking system on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Salvatore Faugno ◽  
Stefania Pindozzi ◽  
Collins Okello ◽  
Maura Sannino
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Bubalus Bubalis ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Functional Aspects ◽  
Milking Frequency ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Automatic Milking Systems ◽  
The One ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
Daily Milk

The automatic milking systems (AMS) have been deeply studied in dairy cows applications, but not in the case of buffaloes; although, a few applications to the species can be found in literature. The objective of this study is to compare some important functional aspects of AMS with the conventional milking systems. Aspects such as adaptation of buffalo to AMS and the possible relationship between milking frequency and daily milk yield were evaluated. Two groups of <em>Bubalus</em> <em>bubalis</em> were reared in the same barn, in a farm located in Piana del Sele (SA) southern Italy. Fourty <em>primiparous</em> <em>buffaloes</em> were milked using an AMS, and at the same time another herd of 40 were milked twice a day using traditional milking system (tandem). The adaptation period of buffaloes to AMS was 2 months. Milking frequency with the AMS was significantly higher compared to the one of traditional methods (2.3±0.17 times/d <em>vs</em> 2 times/d). Daily milk yield with the AMS was observed to be significantly higher than with traditional milking system (7.9±1.3 kg/d <em>vs</em> 6.9±1.06 kg/d). In this study, there was no significant relationship between the increase of daily milking frequency and daily milk yield. We can conclude that a positive AMS effect on daily milk yield and milking frequency is possible and so we can expect successful applications of the AMS to dairy buffalo farms.

scholarly journals The effect of lactation number, stage, length, and milking frequency on milk yield in Korean Holstein dairy cows using automatic milking system

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1093-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayakrishnan Vijayakumar ◽  
Ji Hoo Park ◽  
Kwang Seok Ki ◽  
Dong Hyun Lim ◽  
Sang Bum Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milking Frequency ◽  
Automatic Milking System ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Holstein Dairy Cows

scholarly journals The effect of milking frequency and intervals on milk production and functional properties of the cows’ udder in automatic milking systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 00036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delyus Sharipov ◽  
Rubin Kayumov ◽  
Takhir Akhmetov ◽  
Rustam Ravilov ◽  
Firaya Akhmetzyanova
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Functional Properties ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Milk Flow ◽  
Milking Frequency ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Automatic Milking Systems ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
Daily Milk

The objective of this study was to describe the association between the milking frequency and milk production and to determine the effect of milking intervals on the functional properties of the udder of cows in automatic milking systems. Thousand eight milking recordings were enrolled in the study, in total, 106 Holstein cows were observed. The results of studies showed that at a daily milk yield per cow of 22.0 ± 0.6 (means ± SD) kg, the milking frequency was 2 times (13.5 % of the total number of milkings), 32.7 ± 0.4 kg – 3 times (57.2 %), 37.7 ± 0.6 kg – 4 times (28.0 %), 51.3 ± 4.1 kg – 5 times (1.3 %). An increase in the daily milk yield due to a reduction in the milking interval has been established (p<0.001). However, milk yield per milking has the opposite tendency (p<0.001). The average and maximum milk flow rates increased with an increase in the milking interval and reached the highest values in the interval of 7.50–8.99 hours – 2.36 and 3.36 kg/min, respectively (p<0.001). Cows with a low indicator of maximum milk flow rate (3.01 ± 0.06 kg/min) had greater milk production (36.6 ± 0.47 kg). With an increase in the milking interval from 4.50–5.99 to 7.50–8.99 hours, it was accompanied by a decrease in the latency period milk flow in the quarters of the udder, when the milking interval reached 9.00–10.49 and 10.50–11.99 hours, the latency period milk flow increased.

A laboratory study of vertical migration

1955 ◽  
Vol 144 (916) ◽  
pp. 329-354 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Light Intensity ◽  
Vertical Migration ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Overhead Light ◽  
Light Intensities ◽  
Orientation Response ◽  
Reduced Light ◽  
Characteristic Maximum

In a tank filled with a suspension of indian ink in tap water, a population of Daphnia magna will undergo a complete cycle of vertical migration when an overhead light source is cycli­cally varied in intensity. A ‘dawn rise’ to the surface at low intensity is followed by the descent of the animals to a characteristic maximum depth. The animals rise to the surface again as the light decreases, and finally show a typical midnight sinking. The light intensities at the level of the animals in this experiment are of the same order as those which have been reported in field observations; the time course of the movement also repeats the natural conditions in the field. The process is independent of the duration of the cycle and is related only to the variation in overhead light intensity. At low light intensity the movement of the animal is determined solely by positive photo-kinesis; the dawn rise is a manifestation of this, and is independent of the direction of the light. At high light intensities there is an orientation response which is superimposed upon an alternating positive (photokinetic) phase and a negative phase during which movement is inhibited. The fully oriented animal shows a special type of positive and negative phototaxis, moving towards the light at reduced light intensities and away from it when the light intensity is increased. In this condition it follows a zone of optimum light intensity with some exactness. Experiments show that an animal in this fully oriented condition will respond to the slow changes of intensity characteristic of the diurnal cycle, while being little affected by tran­sient changes of considerable magnitude.

scholarly journals Comparison of yield, composition and quality of milk of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows in conventional and automatic milking systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Kolenda ◽  
Dariusz Piwczyński ◽  
Marcin Brzozowski ◽  
Beata Sitkowska ◽  
Piotr Wójcik
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Urea Content ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Automatic Milking Systems ◽  
Quality Of Milk ◽  
L1 And L2 ◽  
Friesian Cows

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in selected production and functional traits of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows after switching from a conventional (CMS) to an automatic milking system (AMS). The study consisted of 3398 Polish Holstein- Friesian dairy cows, from 16 herds in which CMS was changed to AMS. Cows were in their 1st (L1) or 2nd lactation (L2). The data consisted of milk yield [MY, kg], fat content [FC, %], protein content [PC, %], dry matter [DM, %], lactose content [LC, %], urea content [MU, mg/l], somatic cell count [SCC, thous./ml] and score [SCS, log]. The milking system had a significant impact on milk yield, fat, lactose, dry matter and urea contents. Regardless of lactation number, milk derived from CMS was characterised by higher values for FC, PC, DM SCC and SCS, while milk from AMS had higher MY, LC and MU. Multifactor analysis of variance also confirmed significant effect of herd, season, herd × milking system interaction on SCS in milk of cows in L1. In the studied herds change from CMS to AMS was evaluated separately for cows in L1 and L2. The transitioning from CMS to AMS resulted in the decrease of fat content in 6 L1 and 7 L2 herds, dry matter in 8 L1 and 5 L2 herds. SCS in milk also decreased in 4 L1 and 5 L2 herds. The change caused the increase of MY in 11 L1 and 9 L2 herds, lactose content in 6 L1 and 4 L2 herds and urea content in 9 L1 and 10 L2 herds. AMS may positively affect milk yield and health status, however, the change of milking system should be also accompanied by the change in herd management.

scholarly journals Dynamic forecasting of individual cow milk yield in automatic milking systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 101 (11) ◽  
pp. 10428-10439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan B. Jensen ◽  
Mariska van der Voort ◽  
Henk Hogeveen
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Cow Milk ◽  
Dynamic Forecasting ◽  
Automatic Milking ◽  
Automatic Milking Systems
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