Relationship between herd size, milking technology and milk production parameters on large-scale Hungarian dairy farms

Abstract

The aim of the research was to evaluate the milk quality in the automatic milking system (milking robot) and milking parlor. The somatic cell count is the indicator of inflammation in the udder. If milk ejection is inhibiting, inflammation develops in the udder. Stress is one of the reasons to inhibit milk ejection. As a result the somatic cell count increases but the milk yield decreases. The stress level is higher for primiparous compared with multiparous. The milk yield was significantly greater in the milking robot milked cow milk (28.5±0.60 kg). The somatic cell count was significantly greater in the parlor milked cow milk in the 1 st (319.0±90.69 thousand per ml) and 2 nd (119.0±26.46 thousand per ml, p < 0.05) recordings. The milk yield was not significantly different in the multiparous group. The milk fat and protein contents were greater in the parlor group. The somatic cell count of the multiparous group was significantly greater in the 3 rd recording (146.0±43.92 thousand per ml, p < 0.05). Linear type traits of udder were not different-neither primiparous nor multiparous. Milk ejection was not affected by the linear type of the udder. The stress factor which is responsible for elevated somatic cell count could be the environment factor.