414. Experiments on milking technique: 7. The effect of subjecting dairy cows, for a complete lactation, to a rigid control of the duration of milking

Abstract

1. Thirty-eight first-calf heifers in two equal groups were subjected for complete lactations to a rigid control of the duration of milking to either 4 or 8 min. 2. The treatment had no major effect on the milking rates of either group. 3. Whilst 4 min. was insufficient time to milk out completely the udders of about half the animals on this treatment, the machines on the 8 min. treatment were generally left on for a period after milk flow had stopped. 4. There was no significant difference between the 305-day lactation yields of the two groups or in the persistency. The 4 min. treatment did, however, decrease the yield of milk and fat in early lactation. 5. The 8 min. cows had more clinical and subclinical mastitis, though they did not have a higher proportion of eroded teats nor higher Whiteside test readings. 6. Teat erosion appeared to be correlated with slow milking.