Milking efficiency for grazing dairy cows can be improved by increasing automatic cluster remover thresholds without applying premilking stimulation

It was hypothesized that streamlined premilking stimulation routines are effective at reducing cow cluster-on time but are not required to maintain milk yield or quality when increasing the automatic cluster remover (ACR) threshold above 0.4 kg/min. This was tested by examining the effect of 3 premilking treatments and 4 ACR thresholds over an 11-wk period with 96 mixed-age New Zealand Friesian-Jersey cross cows during peak lactation. Three premilking treatments were chosen: attach cluster immediately (control), attach cluster immediately and apply 30 s of mechanical stimulation (Stim), and remove 2 squirts of milk from each quarter and attach cluster (Strip). Four ACR milk flow rate thresholds were imposed: 0.2 kg/min (ACR2), 0.4 kg/min (ACR4), 0.6 kg/min (ACR6), and 0.8 kg/min (ACR8). Measurements included individual cow milk yield, cluster-on time, average milk flow rate, maximum milk flow rate, time to average milk flow rate, time from maximum milk flow rate to end of milking, and the milk flow rate and cumulative yield at predetermined intervals during each milking session. Milk composition and somatic cell count (SCC) were determined on composite milk samples, collected weekly. Postmilking strip yield was measured at the end of each treatment period. Cows receiving the Strip treatment had a 3 to 4% shorter cluster-on time than did cows on the control treatment, but cows receiving Stim were not different from the control cows. Milk yield, SCC, and postmilking strip yield were not different between the 3 premilking treatments. Cluster-on time of the ACR8 cows was 18 to 26% less than that of the ACR2 cows, but SCC and milk production variables did not differ between the 4 end-of-milking treatments, despite higher strip yields as the ACR threshold increased. Increasing the ACR threshold is an effective strategy to improve milking efficiency (cows milked per operator per hour) in situations where the work routine times of dairy operators can be accelerated. To achieve the greatest milking efficiency, clusters should be attached immediately without premilking manual or mechanical stimulation.