The effect of various automatic cluster removal switch-point settings on milking and overmilking duration and total, peak and overmilking claw vacuum in dairy cows

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dc.contributor.author Vermaak, Pieter
dc.contributor.author Petzer, Inge-Marie
dc.contributor.author Dzidic, Alen
dc.contributor.author Karzis, Joanne
dc.date.accessioned 2023-05-23T13:04:21Z
dc.date.available 2023-05-23T13:04:21Z
dc.date.issued 2022-08
dc.description.abstract This research communication describes the effect of three automatic cluster removal (ACR) switch-point settings on machine-on time, overmilking duration, and the mean, peak-flow and overmilking vacuums. The objective was to reduce the overmilking and milking time, attaining a lower mean claw vacuum during overmilking. In a randomised experiment, 25 cows were subjected to three ACR switch-point settings at flow rates of 0.840 kg/min, 0.630 kg/min and 0.504 kg/min each for 15 morning-milkings. Pre-milking preparations and cow comfort were observed and evaluated, showing evidence that the switch-point setting of 0.840 kg/ml denoted the least proportion of behavioural problems (1.1% ± 0.6) compared to the settings at 0.640 kg/ml (16.0% ± 2.2) and 0.504 kg/ml (9.4% ± 1.7). A VaDia device (Biocontrol) determined the machine-on time and vacuum levels at the claw, mouthpiece and pulsator chamber. The machine-on time varied from 290 ± 72.8 (mean ± sd) to 289 ± 64.4 and 303 ± 66.3 for the 0.840, 0.630 and 0.504 kg/min settings, respectively. Overmilking was shortened by 29.3% and 26.4% and the claw vacuum during overmilking was reduced by 3.7 kPa and 4.3 kPa when using the 0.840 kg/min switch-point setting, compared to the others. An increased cluster-removal milk flow threshold reduced both overmilking and vacuum level during overmilking, lowering the risk of teat damage. Adapting ACR switch-point settings offers a valuable opportunity to increase parlour efficiency and cow comfort in dairy herds. en_US
dc.description.department Production Animal Studies en_US
dc.description.librarian hj2023 en_US
dc.description.sponsorship The National Research Foundation (NRF) and Milk South Africa partly supported this research. en_US
dc.description.uri https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-dairy-research en_US
dc.identifier.citation Vermaak, P., Petzer, I., Dzidic, A., & Karzis, J. (2022). The effect of various automatic cluster removal switch-point settings on milking and overmilking duration and total, peak and overmilking claw vacuum in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Research, 89(3), 285-288. doi: 10.1017/S002202992200053X. en_US
dc.identifier.issn 0022-0299 (print)
dc.identifier.issn 1469-7629 (online)
dc.identifier.other 10.1017/S002202992200053X
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/2263/90786
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher Cambridge University Press en_US
dc.rights © University of Pretoria and University of Zagreb, 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Hannah Dairy Research Foundation. en_US
dc.subject Automatic cluster removal (ACR) en_US
dc.subject ACR setting en_US
dc.subject Cluster take-off time en_US
dc.subject Cow comfort en_US
dc.subject Milking machine en_US
dc.subject Overmilking en_US
dc.title The effect of various automatic cluster removal switch-point settings on milking and overmilking duration and total, peak and overmilking claw vacuum in dairy cows en_US
dc.type Postprint Article en_US


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