One of the advantages of robotic milking systems is the opportunity to customize a milking schedule according to each cow’s age, production, and stage of lactation. The right milking frequency maximizes the cow’s production and comfort, and the robot’s efficiency.
Robotic milking systems can give cows milking permission based on either the time since the last milking, or the expected milk production accumulated since the last milking. Milking permission also defines when a cow is overdue to be milked. Some systems define the time since the last milking in terms of milkings per day while others use interval between milkings. Both end up on the same place.
Research shows cows will reach higher peak production if they are allowed to milk more frequently in early lactation, so early lactation cows should be given milking permission based on time. Once they reach peak production, they can earn milking frequency based on daily milk production. As cows approach dry off, less frequent milking can increase pressure on the udder and reduce milk production. It may be helpful to add transition between those stages to help cows adjust.
Fresh cow milking permission applies to cows less than 15 to 20 days in milk. Cows should be eligible to milk after 4 to 6 hours. Intervals closer to 4 hours can help with training new cows. There are few things more frustrating than fetching a cow and having her rejected at the robot. Intervals closer to 6 hours will make sure cows in guided flow systems learn that the smart gate can allow them to go to feed. Fresh cow permission could make cows overdue as little as 2 hours after they are eligible to milk to encourage fetching during the training process. Cows could start out on early lactation permission if the software does not facilitate fresh cow permission.
Early lactation milking permission begins between 15 to 20 days and ends about 20 days before peak production. The training process should be complete by this time. The minimum milking interval can be increased to allow 4 to 4 ½ milkings per day. The overdue interval can be increased to 4 hours after permission is granted to allow a wider window for cows to milk voluntarily before they are fetched.
As cows reach mid lactation, the emphasis will shift from interval to expected yield. Intervals can increase to 8 hours or more so that lower producing cows are not milked too frequently. High producing cows will still be allowed to milk more frequently based on their expected yield. Mid lactation milking permission should begin after the lactation curve reaches peak. Every herd is different. First lactation cows frequently peak at 100 to 120 days. Mature cows are more likely to peak between 80 and 100 days.
A 20 day transition period between early lactation and mid lactation can help cows adjust from permission dictated primarily by milking interval to permission dictated primarily by expected production. Cows that are milking based on milking interval may become frustrated if the interval abruptly increases from 4 hours to 8 hours. The transition stage may be eliminated if the software does not support it.
Late lactation milking permission should begin about 10 days before expected dryoff. There is no need to transition cows to late lactation. The goal is to put extra pressure on the udder to decrease milk production. Both milking interval and expected yield need to increase so that the cow is milked a maximum of twice daily.
Milking permissions can be managed effectively with 3 stages of lactation. Adding transition stages may make it easier for cows to adjust. It may also facilitate training of fresh cows. Cow Corner can help you set up milking permission to make the best use of your software, and your system, and keep your cows comfortable.
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