SummaryForty-five Friesian cows were assigned to one of 3 milking management treatments: (1) cows milked 14 times weekly, (2) cows milked 13 times weekly (Wednesday morning milking omitted), and (3) cows milked 12 times weekly (Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning milkings omitted). Cows were removed from the trial at the end of their lactations, and newly calved cows were added as they became available. The trial was continued for 12 months.When one milking was omitted weekly, the total lactational milk yield was reduced by 3·5%, fat yield by 2% and protein yield by 1·5%. These reductions were not statistically significant. When 2 consecutive milkings were omitted, the yield of milk and of its main components was reduced by 14% (P < 0·001). The effects were greatest for highly productive cows in early lactation.When one or 2 milkings were omitted the milk yield on the following day was nearly 50% greater than the mean daily yield. No increase in the incidence of subclinioal mastitis was observed in either milking omission treatment.It is concluded that it is practicable to omit one milking each week though it is suggested that the technique should not be used in highly productive herds unless most of the cows are past the sixth week of lactation.

When Rhizobium trifolii was inoculated into 13 seed pellet coating materials, a wide variation in survival of the organisms was found. Five of six adhesives examined supported rhizobia growth. A tenfold improvement in rhizobia survival was obtained on pelleted subterranean clover seeds when the rhizobia were suspended in peat rather than broth. Only one of seven pelleting treatments using a peat suspension of rhizobia in 40% gum arabic had adequate numbers after 8 days.

Irrigated Hunter River lucerne (Medicago sativa), grown at Milang, South Australia, was harvested at three, four, five, and six-week frequencies during the summers of 1964-65 and 1965-66. During the second season, dry matter yields were measured and representative subsamples analyzed for crude protein, digestibility, and crude fibre. Plant density was estimated at the end of the experiment. Maximum dry matter yield was obtained when the six-week cutting frequency was used, but lucerne quality was significantly reduced below that obtained from the five-week cutting frequency. Yield and plant density were significantly reduced by the three-week cutting regime, and substantial weed invasion was recorded.

SummaryForty-five Friesian cows were assigned to one of 3 milking management treatments: (1) cows milked 14 times weekly, (2) cows milked 13 times weekly (Wednesday morning milking omitted) and (3) cows milked 12 times weekly (Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning milkings omitted). The trial continued for 12 months.Milking omission led to compositional changes in herd milk similar to those described for subclinical mastitis, including increases in pH, chloride level and cell count. Alterations in processing properties consistent with these changes were encountered. Heat stability and curd firmness were affected by extending the milking interval, but the magnitude and direction of the effects varied.Where only one milking was omitted weekly, herd milk arriving at cheese or powdered-milk factories would not be expected to cause any serious technical difficulties. Omission of 2 consecutive milkings a week would cause processing difficulties where milk was to be condensed or dried, since the maximum heat stability obtained by pH adjustment was reduced.