Frequent Milking in Early Lactation Does it Pay

1
Frequent Milking in Early Lactation - Does it Pay?

• compliments of Geoff Dahl
• Extension Dairy Specialist
• Univ. of Illinois

2
Milk Yield Response Relative to 2X
140 120 100 80 60
1X 2X 3X 4X 5X 6X
Stelwagen, 2001
3
Beware of Change
40
34.6
30
31.1
Milk Production in Kg
20
10
13.9
10.4
0
Study 1
Study 2
3.5 kg or 34
3.5 kg or 11
4
Milk Production in Kg
3X Milkings 6X Milkings
Lactation
Week 1-6
Week 7-18
Bar-Peled et al.
5
Milk Fat
3X Milkings 6X Milkings
Fat Yield(kg/day)
3.4
1.5
Fat
3.2
3.28
1.4
3.16
3.0
1.35
1.3
2.8
2.81
2.80
2.6
1.2
1.19
2.4
1.16
1.1
2.2
1.05
2.0
1.0
Week1-6
Week 7-18
Week1-6
Week 7-18
Bar-Peled et al.
6
Milk Protein
3X Milkings 6X Milkings
1.5
Protein Yield(lb/day)
1.4
1.3
1.31
1.2
1.18
1.1
1.10
1.03
1.0
Week1-6
Week 7-18
Bar-Peled et al.
7
Multiple Milkings
3X Milkings 6X Milkings
40
43.1
30
40.8
31.0
P lt .01

41.1
kg per day
20
23.3
38.5
10
38.2
36.3
0
Milk Production
Conception Rate
Results from synchronized breeding at 69 to 76
days in milk
P lt .05
Henshaw et al.
8
3X vs. 6X Milking Field Study-Illinois
3X Milkings 6X Milkings
Milk (Kg)
65
14,000
60
13,500
13,390
55
13,000
57.0
Milk (Kg)
50
12,500
51.1
12,260
45
12,000
47.4
44.7
40
11,500
11,000
35
150 d
Peak
305 d Ac
9
Somatic Cell Count Field Study-Illinois
3X Milkings 6X Milkings
13
SCC on Log Scale
12
12.04
11.71
11
11.32
11.23
10.84
10.59
10.40
10.39
10
9
TD 1
TD 2
TD 3
TD 4
10
4X Increases Milk Yield


SED P 0.16
Average
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Why Does Milk Production Increase with Multiple
Milking?
?
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Milk Synthesis Fastest After Milking
Relative Rateof Milk Synthesis
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
4 Hours vs. 6 Hours at Fastest Rate
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Milk Production
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Milk Production

• Metabolic Factors
• Intramammary pressure (physical)
• Feedback inhibitor of lactation (hormonal)

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Intramammary Pressure Hypothesis
1 Hour Post Milking
Milk Pressure
16
Intramammary Pressure Hypothesis
6 Hour Post Milking
Milk Pressure
17
Intramammary Pressure Hypothesis
9 Hour Post Milking
Milk Pressure
18
Intramammary Pressure Hypothesis
12 Hour Post Milking
Milk Pressure
19
FIL Hypothesis(Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation)
1 Hour Post Milking
20
FIL Hypothesis(Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation)
6 Hour Post Milking
21
FIL Hypothesis(Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation)
12 Hour Post Milking
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Combination HypothesisIntramammary Pressure and
FIL
1 Hour Post Milking
23
Combination HypothesisIntramammary Pressure and
FIL
6 Hour Post Milking
24
Combination HypothesisIntramammary Pressure and
FIL
12 Hour Post Milking
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Multiple Milking - Early Lactation

• FIL and intramammary pressure are transient
  effects. Why does increased milk production
  persist after we stop multiple milking?

?
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Early lactation effects persist
Differentiated Mammary Cells

• Peak early lactation then decline
• Increase survival

Time
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Multiple Milking -Mechanism of Action?
2X Milkings 4X Milkings
1.4
Prolactin-receptor mRNA
12
1.2
1.2
10
1.0
10.1
0.9
8
0.8
8.3
Prolactin mg/ml
6
0.6
0.59
0.47
4
0.4
0.2
2
0
0
Long Form
Short Form
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A. Fully differentiated alveolar epithelial cells
characterized by presence of numerous vacuoles
(V), rounded basally positioned nuclei (N),
abundant cytoplasm, and frequent occurrence of
large apically located lipid droplets (F)
alveolar lumen is L. B. Intermediately
differentiated alveolar epithelial cells showing
fewer cellular vacuoles, more irregularly shaped
nuclei, and greater nuclear to cytoplasmic
ratio. C. Undifferentiated alveolar epithelial
cells displaying relative absence of cellular
vacuoles, highly irregularly shaped nuclei, a
mixture of large and small lipid droplets, and
very large nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, (X4,000).
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How to Implement

• Milk fresh cows at beginning and end of each
  milking or at equal intervals (6x every 4 hours,
  4X every 6 hours
• Start at day 1 2 postcalving
• Continue for 3 weeks
• Does not have to be evenly spaced throughout day
  ( ie. - 6X every 4 hrs)
• Need at least 2 hours between milkings!

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Management Approach
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 Time of day
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Where Can It Go Wrong?

• Transition Cow Program
• Nutrition
• Health
• Milking System
• Take-off settings
• Teat end health
• Time in Parlor
• Keep time away from bunk to a minimum
• Do not exceed 4 hours a day

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Potential Economic Benefits4X Milking of All
Cows the 21 Days of Lactation in 120 Cow Herd

• Milk Response in lbs 3 6 9
• Labor 0.11 0.11 0.11
• Feed 0.09 0.18 0.27
• Supplies 0.05 0.05 0.05
• Milk Revenue 0.33 0.66 0.99
• Marginal Profit/Cow 0.08 0.32 0.56
• Marginal Profit/Farm 2,928 11,712 20,496

Labor 4Hr/cow/lactation at 20/Hr Feed 0.06/lb
DM X (0.5lb DM per 1 lb increase in milk
production) Supplies cost of supplies for 42
extra milkings Milk Revenue based on 11.00/cwt

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QUESTIONS?