The effects of 6 milkings daily during the first 21 days of lactation on production and reproduction

What is it about?

The study included Israeli Holstein 32 1st lactation cows, 40 of 2nd lactation cows and 50 >2nd lactation cows. During the first 21 days of lactation, 6× milking cows produced more milk and ECM than the 3× milking cows. The higher milk and ECM production persisted throughout the entire lactation (305 days) for the 1st and 2nd but not for >2nd cows relative to their control counterparts. The higher milk and ECM production also continued through the succeeding lactation in the previous 1st lactation; a tendency toward significance in the 2nd lactation cows relative to the controls, but a deleterious effect on the >2nd lactation cows. There was not observable adverse effects on energy balance, mastitis, metabolic diseases or reproduction for the first or second lactation cows which milked 6 times daily for the first 21 days of lactation throughout the concurrent and successive lactations. Therefore, it seems that this procedure is economically beneficial. Caution should be paid for >second lactation cows due to absence of significant effect in the entire of the first HMF applied lactation and the deleterious effect in the succeeding lactation.

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Why is it important?

There is a short period (21 days) at the initial phase of lactation in which high milking frequency can increase the milk production for the entire of all lactation. This effect will persist in the next lactation, suggesting higher proliferation of secretory cells during the short period the high frequency milking was applied. However, this effect didn't appear in >2nd lactation cows and even had a deleterious effect in the succeeding lactation. The higher milking frequency can be beneficial used in all robotic milking systems but not for adults (i.e. 3rd lactation cows and older).

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