Automatic milking

• Subpackage 1: to develop methods for assessment of teat cleanliness before and after automatic cleaning procedures. 
• Subpackage 2: to evaluate the teat cleaning procedures of different AM-Systems. 
• Subpackage 3: to obtain applicable measures for prevention of teat, and subsequently, milk contamination on farms using automatic milking.

1. Development of methods for evaluation of teat cleaning systems 

Under experimental conditions, methods for the evaluation of teat cleaning systems will be developed. Teats will be contaminated with marker substances mixed with sterilised manure, followed by standardised drying procedure. Markers are determined in milk and on teats after milking by physico-chemical methods (partner 1). Variation in cleaning system, time of application before cleaning and level of contamination is tested. A protocol for evaluation of cleaning systems is based on results of these tests.

A parallel approach will be based on differential bacterial counts. Contamination of teats will be scored visually and certain groups of bacteria (psychrotrophic and thermoduric bacteria, coliforms and sporeformers) will be determined from teat swabs and milk according to standard methods (partner 2). Bacteria suitable for determination of transfer from teats into milk will be selected. Assessment of milk filter conditions after milking will be tested with respect to teat contamination. Determination of bacterial counts in different bedding materials will provide information on these contamination sources.

D13: Protocol for evaluation of teat cleaning systems.

2. Evaluation of different teat cleaning procedures in automatic milking systems 

The determination of the effectiveness of cleaning systems will be based on reliable determination methods on transfer of contaminating material from teat surfaces into milk. The applied methods will be dependent on results of part 1. Current teat cleaning procedures in automatic milking systems will be evaluated according to the protocol (partners 1 and 2).

D14: Report on effectiveness of cleaning procedures applied in different automatic milking systems.

3. Interrelationships between management, teat cleaning system and milk quality 

Hygiene management practices related to teat contamination will be evaluated by a checklist during visits to commercial dairy farms. This part of the study will be combined with workpackage 4. Five farms per participating manufacturer (3) will be included. On selected farms, influence of management and teat cleaning system on milk quality will be studied by determination of appropriate bacterial counts in cow bulk milk of 20 cows in a herd (partner 2), complementary to the official records of bulk tank milk. Evaluation of effectiveness of teat cleaning systems and of contribution of management practices to appropriate teat cleanliness will result in recommendations for on farm-management.

D15: Report on hygiene measures resulting in adequate teat cleaning.

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