Deliverable D10 is out

D10 is the third and last deliverable from work package 4 'Milk quality on farms with an automatic milking system' and is entitled 'Report with results of detail studies on causes of decreased milk quality'.
The aim of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to elevated FFA levels with automatic milking: influence of the milking frequency, technical parameters of the automatic milking system, and finally, farm management aspects.
Milking frequencies are of more importance than technical parameters of the AM system, because FFA levels for farms milking three times per day and AM systems are more or less comparable. However, technical aspects cannot be excluded. Compared to conventional milking, the air/milk ratio is higher, probably resulting in more disruption of milk fat globule membranes. Technical factors were studied in a laboratory study using milking machine components of two AM-systems and of a conventional system. Apart from milking frequencies and technical parameters, management aspects probably play a role. Therefore two studies on various numbers of farms were performed. Although several FFA problems were solved by adjusting milking frequencies and technical adjustments, in some situations high FFA levels remained. Other farm management aspects, like feeding regime, breeding and animal health are still subject of ongoing research.

Message date: May 6, 2004