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ICAR Technical Series no. 7 - Nitra Proc.

ICAR Technical Series no. 7 - Nitra Proc.

ICAR Technical Series no. 7 - Nitra Proc.

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Petermann et al.Automatic milking systems: Udderhealth and milk flow profilesM. Petermann 1 , W. Wolter 2 , C. Rittershaus 1 ,B. Kloppert 2 , H. Seufert 1 & M. Zschöck 21Institut für Landtechnik, Justus-Liebig-UniversitätGiessen, Braugasse 7, 35390 Giessen, Germany,E-mail: Christiane.Koetting@agrar.uni-giessen.de2Staatliches Medizinal-, Lebensmittel- undVeterinäruntersuchungsamt Mittelhessen, 35396Giessen, GermanyAutomatic milking systems (AMS) enable voluntary milking up to morethan three times a day. This fact should <strong>no</strong>t only increase the milk yieldbut also improve the status of udder health in automatically milked herds.The aim of the present study was the investigation of udder health andmilk flow profiles and possible relations between these parameters. Datawere collected on two practical farms using single-box-systems. One herdhad 70 dairy cows which have been milked by one AMS, the other herdhad a stock of 110 dairy cows and used two AMS. Over a period of sixmonths both herds were examined three times. This investigations includeantiseptical foremilk-samples for bacteriological analyses and the recordingof milk flow profiles. Environment-associated pathogens had been the maincause for subclinical mastitis. In one herd the incidence increased duringthe period of investigation. But also udderassociated (contagious)pathogens can spread out in an automatically milked herd. Subclinicalinfected quarters in average have a higher maximum milk flow and longerovermilking times.SummaryKey words: Automatic milking systems, ,udder health, somatic cell count, milkflow profiles, management.One of the most important tech<strong>no</strong>logical in<strong>no</strong>vations in dairying duringthe last years is automatic milking. Worldwide more than 1000 dairy farmsare using this new technique. Most of the systems used in Europe areinstalled in family farms with 50-150 dairy cows. Beside the reduction ofphysical labour and the free organisation of working processes animprovement of the udder health status is suggested, because automaticmilking systems enable voluntary milking and some systems are allowinga quarter milk flow controlled milking process.Introduction<strong>ICAR</strong> <strong>Technical</strong> <strong>Series</strong> - No 7181

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