The evaluation of milkability of Slovak Pinzgau cattle by Lactocorder

Abstract

This paper is focused on the evaluation of milkability of Slovak Pinzgau cattle, using mobile measuring device called Lactocorder. The main group of Slovak Pinzgau dairy cows was divided according to the order of lactation (according to parity) into the experimental groups in order to carry out a comparison of traits and parameters of milkability, obtained by Lactocoder within these groups. An important objective of our study was to detect the length and the thickness of the left rear teat of the cow after each measuring by Lactocorder and also to collect the samples of milk for somatic cell count. Totally 94 Slovak Pinzgau dairy cows were evaluated. All measurements were carried out during one weak on a farm located in the eastern Slovakia. The average total milk yield was 8.13 ± 2.42 kg per milking, with an average milk flow rate of 1.76 ± 0.49 kg.min-1 and average maximum milk flow rate of 3.08 ± 0.90 kg.min-1. The total milk yield showed a positive correlations with average milk flow rate (r = 0.69+++) and with maximal milk flow rate (r = 0.42+++). Based on so called milk flow curves provided by Lactocorder, the course of milking can be evaluated. The milk flow curves display the occurrence of bimodality and duration of each phase of the milking process. The occurrence of bimodality (which can be characterised as a steep decrease of milk flow in time up to 96 seconds after the beginning of milking) was 32.98 %. Positive correlation was found between bimodality and duration of the incline phase (r = 0.74+++) and negative correlation was found between bimodality and quantity of milk acquired during first minute of milking (r = -0.46+++). The mean somatic cell count in our experiment was 297 426 cells.ml-1. The average length of the teat was 50.84 ± 9.19 mm and the average thickness was 25.17 ± 2.55 mm. Information and results concerning milkability and milking, provided by Lactocorder can be very helpful for a farmer in connection with displacing the mistakes, which could be made during milking process or milking readiness.