Automatic milking: effects on somatic cell count and teat end-quality

The latest progress in milking technique is the development of automated milking systems (AMS), which comprises frequent milking and milking on a quarter level basis. The influence of this new technique on somatic cell count (SCC) and teat end condition was compared with conventional parlour milking. Conventional parlour milking was defined as milkings at whole udder level, twice daily in a 2×8 herringbone parlour. Automatic milking in this study included frequent milking and quarter milking. The AMS-milked cows were subjected to both manual and automatic pre-treatment, the conventionally milked cows were only subjected to manual pre-treatment. The study included 66 cows allotted in two groups of comparable cow pairs, matched on the basis of milk yield, SCC in composite milk and lactational stage before assigning them to either the stable using AMS or to the stable using conventional parlour milking. The traits studied were; SCC in composite milk and SCC in quarter strip milk, bacterial analyses, teat end-reactions and teat apex thickness. During the 25-week survey, the cows were studied both during barn confinement and while in pasture. A significant effect (P<0.05) of type of milking management was observed in SCC in quarter strip milk, which was lower in the AMS-milked cows, while there was no effect of type of milking management in SCC in composite milk. The type of milking management showed a significant effect on teat end-reactions (redness on the teat skin P<0.05 and dry teat skin P<0.001) with a lower frequency of redness on the teat skin in the AMS-milked cows. The effect of SCC in quarter strip milk and the maintained teat end-quality in the AMS milked cows may be related to the combination of quarter milking and, as a long term effect, of more frequent milking in the first two periods. The conclusion was that milking in an AMS is as good as, and in some cases better, than milking in a conventional parlour system.