<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in selected production and functional traits of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows after switching from a conventional (CMS) to an automatic milking system (AMS). The study consisted of 3398 Polish Holstein- Friesian dairy cows, from 16 herds in which CMS was changed to AMS. Cows were in their 1st (L1) or 2nd lactation (L2). The data consisted of milk yield [MY, kg], fat content [FC, %], protein content [PC, %], dry matter [DM, %], lactose content [LC, %], urea content [MU, mg/l], somatic cell count [SCC, thous./ml] and score [SCS, log]. The milking system had a significant impact on milk yield, fat, lactose, dry matter and urea contents. Regardless of lactation number, milk derived from CMS was characterised by higher values for FC, PC, DM SCC and SCS, while milk from AMS had higher MY, LC and MU. Multifactor analysis of variance also confirmed significant effect of herd, season, herd × milking system interaction on SCS in milk of cows in L1. In the studied herds change from CMS to AMS was evaluated separately for cows in L1 and L2. The transitioning from CMS to AMS resulted in the decrease of fat content in 6 L1 and 7 L2 herds, dry matter in 8 L1 and 5 L2 herds. SCS in milk also decreased in 4 L1 and 5 L2 herds. The change caused the increase of MY in 11 L1 and 9 L2 herds, lactose content in 6 L1 and 4 L2 herds and urea content in 9 L1 and 10 L2 herds. AMS may positively affect milk yield and health status, however, the change of milking system should be also accompanied by the change in herd management.
</abstract>

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in selected production and functional traits of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows after switching from a conventional (CMS) to an automatic milking system (AMS). The study consisted of 3398 Polish Holstein- Friesian dairy cows, from 16 herds in which CMS was changed to AMS. Cows were in their 1st (L1) or 2nd lactation (L2). The data consisted of milk yield [MY, kg], fat content [FC, %], protein content [PC, %], dry matter [DM, %], lactose content [LC, %], urea content [MU, mg/l], somatic cell count [SCC, thous./ml] and score [SCS, log]. The milking system had a significant impact on milk yield, fat, lactose, dry matter and urea contents. Regardless of lactation number, milk derived from CMS was characterised by higher values for FC, PC, DM SCC and SCS, while milk from AMS had higher MY, LC and MU. Multifactor analysis of variance also confirmed significant effect of herd, season, herd × milking system interaction on SCS in milk of cows in L1. In the studied herds change from CMS to AMS was evaluated separately for cows in L1 and L2. The transitioning from CMS to AMS resulted in the decrease of fat content in 6 L1 and 7 L2 herds, dry matter in 8 L1 and 5 L2 herds. SCS in milk also decreased in 4 L1 and 5 L2 herds. The change caused the increase of MY in 11 L1 and 9 L2 herds, lactose content in 6 L1 and 4 L2 herds and urea content in 9 L1 and 10 L2 herds. AMS may positively affect milk yield and health status, however, the change of milking system should be also accompanied by the change in herd management.

Comparison of yield, composition and quality of milk of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows in conventional and automatic milking systems

Department of Biotechnology and Animal Genetics, Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in selected production and functional traits of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows after switching from a...

Comparison of yield, composition and quality of milk of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows in conventional and automatic milking systems

Published Online: May 08, 2021

Page range: 709 - 720

Received: Mar 09, 2020

Accepted: Sep 07, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2020-0101

Keywords
cattle, automatic milking system, conventional milking system, milk composition, milk quality

© 2020 Magdalena Kolenda et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Comparison of yield, composition and quality of milk of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows in conventional and automatic milking systems

Published Online: May 08, 2021

Page range: 709 - 720

Received: Mar 09, 2020

Accepted: Sep 07, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2020-0101

Keywordscattle, automatic milking system, conventional milking system, milk composition, milk quality

© 2020 Magdalena Kolenda et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
cattle, automatic milking system, conventional milking system, milk composition, milk quality