ICAR Technical Series no. 7 - Nitra Proc.

Gleeson & O'Callaghan1.91.71.51.31.10.90.70.530 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300Lactation daysT1T2Figure 1. Monthly teat-end scores for two milking systems.shown in teat texture or colour between milking treatments. Teat colourchanges shown in previous studies were probably more related toover-milking rather than the teat-cup liner type used. The percentage ofteats classified as soft was 19% and 47 % and rough was 34 % and 11 % forfront and rear teats respectively. The poor teat texture found with frontteats is probably due to some level of over-milking with front teats ascompared to rear teats. Right-sided teats showed had higher percentagesoft teats (43% v 24%) as compared to left-sided teats. The post milkingdisinfectant used on right-sided teats contained high levels of emollientsand this may explain the better teat texture shown with these teats. Themean total lactation milk yields recorded were 5 465 kg and 5 267 kg forTreatments 1 and 2, respectively. Treatment 1 gave 5.2% and 0.5% highermilk yields at the AM and PM milking respectively, as compared toTreatment 2. The peak milk flow-rate was 3.6 and 3.2 kg/min at AM andPM respectively for both milking treatments. Peak milk flow-rate washigher for T1 during the 1 st twelve weeks of lactation and for T2 duringthe last 12 weeks of lactation.Table 1. Effect of milking treatment and teat position on teat texture and teat.Teat textureTeat colourSoft % Firm % Rough % pink % Red %T1 34 45 20 78 22T2 32 44 24 73 27Front Teats 19 47 34 78 22Rear Teats 47 42 11 82 18Right sided Teats 43 38 18 83 17Left sided Teats 24 51 26 76 24ICAR Technical Series - No 7245