A recent study conducted on a commercial dairy in Israel and published in the scientific magazine Animal (Shoshani et al., 2016) examined the effects of milking six times daily during the first 21 days of lactation on milk production. The study included 122 Holsteins milked three (3x) or six (6x) times daily for the first 21 days of lactation, and then 3x for the rest of lactation.
During the first 21 days of lactation, 6x milked cows produced 16.1 lb. per day more energy-corrected-milk (ECM) than the 3x milked cows. Throughout the lactation, first lactation cows produced 1,560 lb. more milk and second lactation cows produced 1,359 lb. more milk compared to cows milked 3x. However, second- and higher lactation cows produced 0.37% less milk.
Additionally, after the next calving, ECM yields were affected in the succeeding lactation. The ECM yield was 1,924 lb. higher in the first lactation cows previously milked 6x. Similar results were seen in second-lactation cows that were previously milked 6x.Similar results were seen in second-lactation cows that were previously milked 6x. However, cows older than second lactation, milked 6x in previous lactations, produced 1,183 lb. less milk.
No adverse effects of 6x milking on energy balance, mastitis, metabolic diseases or reproduction were seen. This data shows it is economically beneficial to milk fresh first- and second-lactation cows 6x, however it is counterproductive to follow this practice in older cows.
Continue reading this article published in Milk.
