Effect of one automatic cluster remover (ACR) setting on milking efficiency on Murciano–Granadina goats

In recent years there has been an increasing deployment of automatic vacuum cutting devices (component of automatic cluster removers, ACR) for milking parlors of dairy goats. However, there is a lack of scientific studies regarding optimal settings (milk flow threshold, MF and delay time, DT) for the milking of Murciano–Granadina goats. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different combinations of operating parameters of an automatic vacuum cutting device (LactoFlow®, Gea Farm Technologies, Bonn, Germany) on milking efficiency (milking duration and milk fractioning), milking routine (cluster falls and double cluster attachment) and mean vacuum drop. To achieve this goal, 3 groups of 28 goats were each used to conduct two tests, one at the beginning and one at the end of the lactation. A four Latin square design was used in each test and each Latin square had a duration of 6 days. The assays combined sequentially one MF (250, 200, 150 and 100 g/min) and three DT (10, 15 and 20 s). MF 150 g/min at the beginning of lactation and MF 100 g/min at the end of lactation achieved similar milk yield fractionation results. These results did not involve an increase in milking duration. Moreover, minor double cluster attachment frequency and minor mean vacuum drop were observed in the same MF.On the other hand, milking duration and mean vacuum drop increased when DT was higher than 10 s in a single MF, but milk fractioning was not improved. The results indicate that the combination of MF 100 or 150 g/min and DT 10 s are the most suitable settings for the operation of the automatic vacuum cutting device to milk Murciano–Granadina goats. Additional studies are needed to assess the effect of the automatic vacuum cutting device on the milking time of the entire herd, physical and chemical composition of the milk, health status of the mammary gland and total milk production.