Understanding How To

Properly Milk Your Cows

Consumers demand fresh, wholesome,

safe and good quality milk.

Harvesting Milk is the Most Important Job on

The Dairy

Understanding the milk harvest process

allows you to understand the importance

milking your cows…..

Gently, Quickly and

Completely!

Inside the Udder

•The udder has 4

separate glands

•Each gland is drained by

a separate teat

Inside the Gland

• Inside each gland there are

alveoli, milk ducts and

connective tissue

• Before milking only 40% of

the milk is stored in the

cistern and milk ducts.

• The rest of the milk stored

(60%) can only be harvested

when the muscle cells

contract the milk secreting

cells to evacuate the milk

towards the alveoli and the

cisterns.

•

• Remember that 7 to 15% of

the milk remains in the

alveoli and cannot be

removed during milking. At

this point the cow is

considered Completely

milked.

Milk Letdown

• It is necessary to stimulate the teats for 10 to 12 seconds so pituitary gland to releases oxytocin. Then attach milking unit after 90-

120 seconds.

Obstacles for Milk Letdown

Stress is the number 1 enemy of oxytocin. Stress stimulates the adrenal

gland to produce adrenalin (another hormone) which inhibits the effect of

the oxytocin on the cells and stops milk letdown.

Excessive Noise

Physical Abuse

External Agents

Heart

BrainPituitary

Gland

Forestrip

N

e

r

v

e

s

Gently: Minimal stress for the animal during movement into the

barn or parlor, by respecting the cows.

Quickly: Proper timing of udder preparation and unit

attachment improves milk flow by taking advantage of the milk

letdown reflex to reduce the average milking duration.

Completely: All available milk is removed and total production

is optimized or increased.

Gently, Quickly and Complete Milking

Why?

Gently, Quickly and Complete Milking

How?

Understanding Milking

Liner Open, Peak Flow

Liner Closed, Peak

Flow

The liner only collapses

around the teat end not

the full teat barrel

120

10-12s 20-25s 20-30s

0 40 70 90

Stimulation Attach Milk ejection prep.

• Manipulation of teats for 10-12 sec causes the oxytocin release (generally

takes 15 to 18 seconds of total time)

• Transport of the hormone by the blood to the udder 20-25s

• Start of muscle cell contraction 20s, 30s for full contraction

• Complete letdown 90s after first contact with teats

Timing

90s

-90 0 5mi

n

6min

4-6min

2min

Optimal Oxytocin effect

Timing Goals

• 10-12 seconds of stimulation or teat contact

time

• 20-30 seconds of contact time for pre-dip

• 90 seconds from beginning of teat contact time

to unit attachment

Milking Routine • Milking Routines-define how an

individual milker or group of milkers carry out a given milking procedure (minimal or full) over multiple cows.

• Milking Routines - also help determine which type of parlor to choose

Milking Routine • In traditional parlors (parallel,

herringbone, parabone) there are three predominant milking routines

– Grouping

– Sequential

– Territorial

Risk for procedural drift is high

Type of Routine Advantage Disadvantage

Grouping Alternative to sequential without loosing cow through putPromotes teamwork

Proper Timing,consistency among operators

Sequential Good cow through putPromotes team work

Proper timing

Territorial Does not require team workMay be easier to train

Reduces cow though put by 20-30 % when compared to sequentialNo team work

Almost any CONSISTENT routine will work, getting the timing correct for full release of oxytocin is the challenge to harvesting milk

gently, quickly and completely

Determining Milking Routine

Milking Routine • Rotary Parlors are a combination of

sequential and territorial routines.

• Rotary Parlors provide an opportunity for better routine consistency because the cows are moving and the operators are stationary.

72 Stall Rotary with minimal Routine

72 Stall Rotary with Full Routine

External Rotary Parlor

• Entry time (seconds/stall), number of empty stalls number of cows which go around for second time, entry and exit stops, and the number of stall influence the parlor performance.

• Entry Time determines maximum number of cows per hour. EX. If entry time is 10 seconds through put will be 360 cows per hour.

• A rotary parlor must be large enough that 90 % of cows are milked in one trip around parlor.

Minimal Prep Procedures

• Advantages and Disadvantages of a minimal prep routine

Full Prep procedures• Advantages and Disadvantages of a full milking procedures

• For maximum milk quality and cow comfort BouMatic recommends using a full prep procedure to harvest milk gently, quickly and completely.

120

10-12s 20-25s 20-30s

0 40 70 90

Stimulation Attach Milk ejection prep.

• Manipulation of teats for 10-12 sec causes the oxytocin release (generally

takes 15 to 18 seconds of total time)

• Transport of the hormone by the blood to the udder 20-25s

• Start of muscle cell contraction 20s, 30s for full contraction

• Complete letdown 90s after first contact with teats

Timing

90s

-90 0 5mi

n

6min

4-6min

2min

Optimal Oxytocin effect

Timing Goals

• 10-12 seconds of stimulation or teat contact

time

• 20-30 seconds of contact time for pre-dip

• 90 seconds from beginning of teat contact time

to unit attachment

At least 50% of the milk is removed in the first

2min.

50 %

2 min

4-6 min

Available milk

This is a measure of overall performance of the milking

system, the quality of cow preparation ,handling, and

machine attachment and adjustment.

Milk Letdown

• Consistency is critical

Example of Milk Letdown with Good

Preparation

Peak flow is quickly reached, milk flow continues and then

decreases quickly.

Peak flow

Vacuum level in

liner

Good

preparation

and

appropriate

detach setting

=

Gentle,

optimal and

complete

milking

Detach

Obstacles for Milk Letdown

Stress is the number 1 enemy of oxytocin. Stress stimulates the adrenal gland to produce

adrenalin (another hormone) which inhibits the effect of the oxytocin on the cells and stops milk

letdown.

Excessive Noise

Physical Abuse

Inconsistent Routine

Improper system settings

Heart

BrainPituitary

Gland

Forestrip

N

e

r

v

e

s

Example of Milk Letdown without Stimulation

High vacuum in liner

with

minimal milk

flow

=

More teat & teat skin

irritation

Peak flow

Vacuum level in

liner

Harvest of cistern milk and only then peak flow

• Stimulation and teat cleaningSeparate wash/stimulation cup

One by one

Washing, drying, stimulation

The maximum Oxytocin level in 60-90 seconds

Result:

• - high milk speed

• - quick milking

• - complete milking

• - healthy udde

• CONSISTENCY

Gently-Quickly-Completely

Pulsation

Claw

Vaccum

Milking transfer

Maintenance

Detacher

Milking process

Environment

Stall

Thank you!