As I work with farmers, I see a wide range of attitudes towards milking permission. On the one extreme are those who think of milking permission as that mysterious place, deep in the software, where nobody should ever go, because nobody really understands it. On the other extreme are those who just wish there were more settings available because they have developed mathematical formulas to evaluate the right setting for each barn. Most of us are somewhere in the middle. Wherever you fit on the scale, milking permission will do more if you start with why. For me, there are 3 whys. First, use the equipment efficiently to maximize capacity; second, don’t milk the cow when she doesn’t need to be milked; third, keep the line short at the robot.
Maximize Capacity
The time required to prep a cow is the similar, whether she produces 15 pounds or 40. Robots generally complete 150 to 180 milkings per day. It goes without saying that 170 milkings at 40 lbs make better use of the robot than 170 milkings at 15 lbs. Milking permissions maximize capacity by reducing the number of low yielding milkings. On the other hand, if milking permission is too restrictive, infrequent milking will increase udder pressure and reduce daily production per cow.
Avoid Unnecessary Milkings
In addition to wasting time in the robot, low-yield milkings are unpleasant for the cow. Prep times may be longer because teats are harder to find when udders are not full. Applying vacuum to a teat that does not have any milk is not comfortable for the cow. Opening the teat when it is not necessary increases risk of bacteria getting into the udder.
Keep the Line Short
When more cows are eligible to be milked, more cows can be waiting at the robot. This causes crowding and discourages timid cows. I compare this to serving a buffet. When all the diners come to the buffet at once, the line gets long and people at the back of the line become impatient. When access to the buffet is controlled by releasing one or two tables at a time, the line stays short and people are less likely to become impatient. The same thing happens with robotic milking, and correct milking permission can keep the line short.
Putting it all Together
To keep all of this in balance, milking permission for pre-peak cows should be based on time. This allows them to milk frequently whether they have earned a milking or not. Frequent milking before peak results in higher peak yields. After peak, milk cows according to expected yield to avoid unnecessary milkings, for all the reasons above. In reality, both expected yield and time will determine milking frequency for all cows, but one should be emphasized over the other depending on stage of lactation.
Contact me to discuss milking permission specific to your farm, your cows, and your management.
Comments