The Science Behind Flow-Responsive™ Milking
Effects of flow-controlled vacuum on milking performance and teat condition in a rotary milking parlor.
D.J. Reinemann, B.H.P. van den Borne, H. Hogeveen, M.Wiedemann, and C.O. Paulrud published in: J. Dairy Sci. 104: 6820-6831
The objective of this study was to compare a vacuum control system that increases milking system vacuum during the peak flow period of milking to conventional constant vacuum control technology regarding its effect on milk flowrate and milking duration. Further objectives were to study the effects of flow-controlled vacuum on milking parlor performance. An observational study was conducted on a commercial dairy farm milking from 848 to 896 cows per day over the study period using a 60-stall rotary milking parlor. The flow-controlled vacuum control system was applied for 3 wk. Milking performance and teat condition were compared with 3-wk periods prior and subsequent to the test period using conventional vacuum control. Statistical analysis was performed assuming a cross-sectional study design during each period. Flow-controlled vacuum increased peak milk flowrate by 12% and increased average milk flowrate by 4%. The decrease in individual cow milking duration was proportional to milk yield per milking. Postmilking teat condition was good during the entire study period.
The occurrence of rough teat ends was slightly reduced during the flow-controlled vacuum period with no meaningful difference in the occurrence of teats with blue color, palpable rings, or petechia. The combination of reduced vacuum during the low flow period of milking and the decrease in milking duration are likely factors that are protective of teat tissues. Bioeconomic modeling of the use of flow-controlled vacuum on the performance of rotary milking parlors, using the data that were collected during the study, showed that the reduction in milking duration of individual cows allows a higher rotary parlor speed. Modeled parlor throughput increased by 5.0% to 419 cows/h, 6.8% to 407 cows/h, and 4.2% to 326 cows/h when 80%, 95%, and 99% of the cows were finished milking at the end of the rotation for a 60-stall parlor. Model results showed that increased parlor throughput resulted in increased labor efficiency, reduced labor costs for milking, and a positive benefit-cost ratio on the investment for all but the smallest herd and parlor sizes considered.
Get access to full publication: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-19418
Reduced Labor Costs when Using a Flow-controlled Vacuum in Rotary Milking Parlors
Bart H.P. van den Borne, Carl Oskar Paulrud, Douglas J. Reinemann, H. Hogeveen
Current vacuum levels of milking parlors are constant and a trade-off between milk flowrate and teat health. A milk flow-controlled vacuum (FCV; DeLaval), being an increased vacuum during peak milk flow, results in a higher milk flow and therefore shorter milking duration (Reinemann et al., 2020) without negatively impacting teat health (Feierabend et al., 2020).
The speed of a rotary milking parlor can thus be increased, resulting in a shorter total milking time with lower associated labor costs. This study estimated the yearly savings of decreasing the milking duration of cows in large dairy herrds with a rotary milking parlor by using a FCV system.
Get access to publication: https://edepot.wur.nl/536500
Different vacuum levels, vacuum reduction during low milk flow, and different cluster detachment levels affect milking performance in dairy cows
Claudia Stauffer, Martina Feierabend and Rupert M. Bruckmaier
Published in: J. Dairy Sci. 103:9250–9260
Traditionally, machine milking is performed at a constant vacuum supply. The system vacuum has to be set high enough to allow a sufficiently high vacuum at the teat end, despite the inevitable vacuum drop caused by milk flow. This leads to an increased vacuum load on the teat, especially when milk flow ceases at the end of milking. We tested the hypothesis that a milk flow–controlled adaptation of vacuum settings during milking allows even higher vacuum levels than are usually recommended during the period of high milk flow if the vacuum is reduced during low milk flow. Combined with a high cluster detachment flow rate level, increased milking performance is expected without an increased effect on teat tissue. Ten Holstein dairy cows were milked with a bucket milker with the claw vacuum adjusted in the absence of milk flow at a regular (43 kPa) and high (48 kPa) claw vacuum, with and without vacuum reduction during low milk flow (<2 kg/min), and combined with different cluster detachment levels (0.2, 0.6, and 1 kg/min). Each treatment was applied in each cow during 4 subsequent milkings in a randomized crossover design. Both claw vacuum and milk flow were continuously recorded throughout milking.
Teat tissue thickness was measured using a cutimeter and teat wall diameter was measured by B-mode ultrasonography at 5 min after the end of milking. Milk yield was not affected by either vacuum settings or detachment levels. Machine-on time in treatments with vacuum reduction was shorter at high than at low vacuum and decreased with increasing detachment levels. Average milk flow was higher at high than at low vacuum and reached highest values in milkings without vacuum reduction at both vacuum levels. The average milk flow was higher at a cluster detachment of 1 kg/min than at 0.2 kg/min. However, both teat tissue thickness and (as a tendency) teat wall diameter at 5 min after cluster detachment were higher in milkings at high vacuum without vacuum reduction compared with all other treatments. In conclusion, high claw vacuum up to 48 kPa increases milking performance because of higher milk flow and reduced machine-on time. Negative effects of high vacuum on teat tissue are prevented by reducing vacuum during low milk flow (<2 kg/min) at the start and end of milking. Additionally, using a high cluster detachment level reduces machine-on time without a loss of harvested milk.
Get access to full publication: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-18677