Effect of different premilking methods on the milking characteristics of Australian Illawarra Shorthorn cows

Abstract

Washing for 5 sec as compared with no premilking treatment significantly increased the overall milking rate, reduced the time for the first flow of milk and shortened the milking time. Increasing the amount of premilking stimulus to 30 sec and 60 sec further increased the overall milking rate, and decreased the milking time.
Taking foremilk had the same effect in stimulating milk let-down as massaging the udder for the same length of time.
A short delay of 30 sec after stimulation increased the milking rate. However, a delay of 5 or 8 min after preparation before milking adversely affected the milking response. Rewashing at the end of the waiting period before putting the cups on overcame the adverse effects of this delay.
The milk-flow curve was not always characteristic for each cow but varied with different methods of premilking preparation. With insufficient or no stimulation there was a slow initial milking rate before the maximum was reached later in the milking. H milking was not started until 5 or 8 min after stimulation the initial rate was fast but the milking rate became slower later in the milking and there was sometimes a "second let-down."