Evaluation of automatic milking system variables in dairy cows with different levels of lactation stage and reproduction status

Abstract

In this study, we hypothesized that differences of automatic milking systems (AMS) variables in dairy cows during estrus and through diverse stages of lactation can be suggested as alternative indicators to support the pregnancy in dairy farms using automatic milking systems. The key objectives were: (1) to determine the variation of automatic milking system indicators during lactation and to estimate the relationship with reproduction status in dairy cows; (2) to test the hypothesis that milking traits of cows can be influenced by estrus and conceiving, and can be used as a predictor of the likelihood of reproductive success in dairy herds. Estrus synchronization was performed in 368 healthy Lithuanian Black and White cows. All cows (n = 368) were synchronized and inseminated for the first time on the 91st day in milk (DIM). Cows not pregnant (17.39%) were synchronized and inseminated again at 132 DIM. After the first insemination pregnant (n = 304) cows were identified as group 1, after the second insemination pregnant (n = 58) cows – as group 2. Overall, 12 01 713 records of udder quarters in cows from 5 to 305 DIM were evaluated. The results revealed the reduction in milk yield during estrus 11.05% on 91 DIM and 13.89% on 132 DIM (P < 0.001) and an increment in milk flow traits in cows after 91 DIM (P < 0.05), also a slight decline in milk flow traits on 132 DIM. Furthermore, milking frequency (MF) of cows decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after conceiving. The interval between milkings (MI) increased (40.30%) during estrus of cows in group 1 (P < 0.001), and thereafter gradually increased, however in group 2 there was a temporary increment (6.06%) on the 91 DIM and steady rise (42.13%) on 132 DIM was noticed. The results highlight that changes in AMS indicators of cows may be considered as an additional tool for improvement of reproductive management in dairy herds, but further research-based studies are necessary before practical application.

The Potentialities of Machine Learning for Cow-Specific Milking: Automatically Setting Variables in Milking Machines

“…In addition, their average lifetime is 2.2 lactations (about 4-5 years of age) [4]. A wide and comprehensive body of literature can be found on all the aspects related to milking, prediction of milk production [2], and techniques to monitor milk yield (with lactometers and software directly linked with automatic milking systems and traditional milking systems with animal identification), e.g., in [5][6][7], udder health, e.g., [8,9], welfare [10,11], feeding [12], milking operations, routine [6,[13][14][15], pre-dipping and post-dipping procedures, and manual pre-stimulation by the milker, e.g., in [16,17].…”

Trends in Changes of Automatic Milking System Biomarkers and Their Relations with Blood Biochemical Parameters in Fresh Dairy Cows

“…According to our past study, some biomarkers from automatic milking systems (AMSs), like milk yield (MY), rumination time (RT), body weight (BW), milk composition, milk conductivity, and their relationship with some blood parameters, have an association with subclinical ketosis (SCRTK) and subclinical acidosis (SARA) [ 4 ]. Juozaitiene et al [ 5 ] found that changes in cows’ AMS indicators can act as an additional tool to improve the management of reproduction in dairy herds, but more research-based studies are needed to incorporate them into practice. Malasauskiene et al [ 6 ] established that RT could be used as an indicator of stress for cows in the first 30 days postpartum.…”

О Механизме Молокоотдачи У Коров При Повышении Разового Удоя

“…Двигательная функция вымени реализуется при молокоотдаче, которая заключается в быстром выходе альвеолярного молока в молочные протоки, ходы и цистерны под влиянием сокращающихся миоэпителиальных клеток, активном перемещении секрета по системе молочных протоков и ходов и выведении его из вымени. Для характеристики интенсивности молокоотдачи используют показатели внутривыменного давления (ВВД) (9, 10), а также параметры молоковыведения в условиях как традиционного (11)(12)(13), так и автоматизированного доения (14). На параметры ВВД и молоковыведения влияет величина разового удоя коров.…”