A Randomized Trial to Study the Effect of Automatic Cluster Remover Settings on Milking Performance, Teat Condition, and Udder Health

摘要

Since their advent in 1970 (Armstrong et al., 1970), automatic cluster removers (ACRs) have fostered profitability in dairy operations by increasing the automation of the milking process, decreasing labor costs, and improving parlor efficiency. Earlystudies by Sagi (1978) and Rasmussen (1993) showed that an increase in the cluster remover take-off milk flow threshold from 0.44 to 0.88 1b/min (0.2 to 0.4 kg/min) led to a reduction in milking time without adversely affecting milk production. In addition, Rasmussen (1993) documented improved teat tissue conditions in cows that were milked with an increased ACR setting. These initial studies were followed by work from researchers around the globe investigating different ACR settings in conventional milking systems, pasture-based systems, confinement, and pasture-based automatic milking systems. The majority of these studies supported the results of the earlier works. The threshold values under investigation ranged between 0.44 and 1.8 lb/min [0.2 and0.82 kg/min (Stewart et al., 2002, Edwards et al., 2013)]. Recent developments in milking machine settings in the industry support increased threshold, and a cluster remover take-off milk flow threshold of up to 2.2 lb/min (1 kg/min) has been suggested (Besier and Bruckmaier, 2016).