DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Differences in Voluntary Cow Traffic between Holstein and Illawarra Breeds of Dairy Cattle in a Pasture-based Automatic Milking System

  • Clark, C.E.F. (Dairy Science Group, The University of Sydney) ;
  • Kwinten, N.B.P. (HAS den Bosch University) ;
  • van Gastel, D.A.J.M. (HAS den Bosch University) ;
  • Kerrisk, K.L. (Dairy Science Group, The University of Sydney) ;
  • Lyons, N.A. (Dairy Science Group, The University of Sydney) ;
  • Garcia, S.C. (Dairy Science Group, The University of Sydney)
  • Received : 2013.07.18
  • Accepted : 2013.10.28
  • Published : 2014.04.01

Abstract

Automatic milking systems (AMS) rely upon voluntary cow traffic (the voluntary movement of cattle around a farm) for milk harvesting and feed consumption. Previous research on conventional milking systems has shown differences between dairy cow breeds for intake and milk production, however, the ability to manipulate voluntary cow traffic and milking frequency on AMS farms through breed selection is unknown. This study investigated the effect of breed (Holstein Friesian versus Illawarra) on voluntary cow traffic as determined by gate passes at the Camden AMS research farm dairy facility. Daily data on days in milk, milk yield, gate passes and milking frequency for 158 Holstein Friesian cows and 24 Illawarra cows were collated by month for the 2007 and 2008 years. Illawarra cows had 9% more gate passes/day than Holstein cows over the duration of the study; however, the milking frequency and milk yield of both breeds were similar. Gate passes were greatest for both breeds in early lactation and in the winter (June to August) and summer (December to February) seasons. These findings highlight an opportunity to translate increased voluntary cow movement associated with breed selection into increased milking frequencies, milk production and overall pasture-based AMS performance.

Keywords

References

  1. Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme (ADHIS). 2013. National Herd Recording Statistics 2011/12. www.adhis.com.au
  2. Bicalho, R. C., L. D. Warnick, and C. L. Guard. 2008. Strategies to analyze milk losses caused by diseases with potential incidence throughout the lactation: a lameness example. J. Dairy Sci. 91:2653-2661. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2007-0744
  3. Clark, C. E. F., D. A. Clark, and W. J. Fulkerson. 2007. Feed conversion efficiency and genotype by environment interaction: matching a cow with high feed conversion efficiency to a low input, pasture-based environment. Proc. 3rd Dairy Sci. Symp. pp.129-135.
  4. Clark, C. E. F., W. J. Fulkerson, K. S. Nandra, I. Barchia, and K. L. Macmillan. 2005. The use of indicators to assess the degree of mobilisation of body reserves in dairy cows in early lactation on a pasture-based diet. Livest. Prod. Sci. 94:199-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livprodsci.2004.11.038
  5. Dillon, P., F. Buckley, P. O'Connor, D. Hegarty, and M. Rath. 2003. A comparison of different dairy cow breeds on a seasonal grass based system of milk production.1. Milk production, live weight, body condition score and DM intake. Livest. Prod. Sci. 83:21-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(03)00041-1
  6. Garcia, S. C., W. J. Fulkerson, and S. U. Brookes. 2008. Dry matter production, nutritive value and efficiency of nutrient utilization of a complementary forage rotation compared to a grass system. Grass Forage Sci. 63:284-300. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.2008.00636.x
  7. Gygax, L., I. Neuffer, C. Kaufmann, R. Hauser, and B. Wechsler. 2007. Comparison of functional aspect in two automatic milking systems and auto tandem milking parlors. J. Dairy Sci. 90:4265-4274. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2007-0126
  8. Holmes, C. W., G. F. Wilson, W. Kuperus, S. Buvaneshwa, and B. Wickham. 1993. Liveweight, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency of lactating dairy cows. Proc. New Zealand Soc. Anim. Prod. 53:95-99.
  9. Jago, J., P. Copeman, K. Bright, D. McLean, I. Ohnstad, and M. Woolford. 2002. An innovative farm system combining automated milking with grazing. Proc. New Zealand Soc. Anim. Prod. 62:115-119.
  10. Jago, J., K. L. Davis, R. Wieliczko, and M. M. Woolford. 2006. The effect of stage of lactation on cow movement in a pasture-based automatic milking system. Proc. New Zealand Soc. Anim. Prod. 66:258-262.
  11. Jago, J. and K. Kerrisk. 2011. Training methods for introducing cows to a pasture-based automatic milking system. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 131:79-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2011.02.002
  12. L'Huillier, P. J., C. R. Parr, and A. M. Bryant. 1988. Comparative performance and energy metabolism of Jerseys and Friesians in early-mid lactation. Proc. New Zealand Soc. Anim. Prod. 48:231-235.
  13. Macdonald, K. A., G. A. Verkerk, B. S. Thorrold, J. E. Pryce, J. W. Penno, L. R. McNaughton, L. J. Burton, J. A. S. Lancaster, J. H. Williamson, and C. W. Holmes. 2008. A comparison of three strains of holstein-friesian grazed on pasture and managed under different feed allowances. J. Dairy Sci. 91:1693-1707. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2007-0441
  14. Payne, R. W., S. A. Harding, D. A. Murray, D. M. Soutar, D. B. Baird, A. I. Glaser, I. C. Channing, S. J. Welham, A. R. Gilmour, R. Thompson, and R. Webster. 2008. GenStat Release 11 Reference Manual, Part 2 Directives.VSN International, Hemel Hempstead, UK.
  15. Prescott, N. B., T. T. Mottram, and A. J. F. Webster. 1998. Relative motivations of dairy cows to be milked or fed in a Y-maze and an automatic milking system. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 57:23-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(97)00112-3
  16. Rius, A. R., K. J. Kay, C. V. C. Phyn, S. R. Morgan, and J. R. Roche. 2010. Milking frequency and milk production in pasture-based lactating dairy cows. Proc. 61st Annual Meeting EAAP, Heraklion, Crete Island, Greece. p. 12.
  17. Sporndly, E. and E. Wredle. 2004. Automatic milking and grazing-effects of distance to pasture and level of supplements on milk yield and cow behavior. J. Dairy Sci. 87:1702-1712. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)73323-8
  18. Smith, N. E. and R. L. Baldwin. 1974. Effects of breed pregnancy, and lactation, on weight of organs and tissues in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 57:1055-1060. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(74)85008-3

Cited by

  1. Review: Milking robot utilization, a successful precision livestock farming evolution vol.10, pp.09, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731116000495
  2. Robotic milking: Feeding strategies and economic returns vol.100, pp.9, 2017, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11694
  3. Modeling variability of the lactation curves of cows in automated milking systems vol.103, pp.9, 2014, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17962