SR9218 - Improving udder health in automatic milking systems through feed bunk management and design

This project was funded by OMAFRA through the 2009 New Directions & Alternative Renewable Fuels Research program.

Lead researcher

Dr. Trevor DeVries, Dept. of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph

Objectives

1. To describe the lying patterns of dairy cows milked in an automatic milking system and determine if these patterns relate to udder health.
2. To determine the effect of frequency of ration delivery on the behavioural patterns of dairy cattle milked in an automatic milking system.
3. To determine the effect of feed bunk availability on the behavioural patterns of dairy cattle milked in an automatic milking system.

Expected benefits

This research could have a profound impact on the economic and practical success of automatic milking in Ontario. This impact would be realized through the reduction of udder infection in dairy cows milked in these systems. Reduced infection will increase producer profitability through decreased milk loss, reduced drug and veterinary costs, increased cow longevity, and increased time which would otherwise be spent dealing with such infections. Decreased drug use will also reduce the risk of antibiotic residues in milk, which are not only costly to producers, but also a concern to the public in association with antibiotic resistance. Reduced infections will also decrease somatic cells counts in milk, improving the quality of the milk, making it healthier with a longer shelf life. Overall, such improvements will increase consumer confidence in their purchase and consumption of milk products, helping maintain a strong Ontario dairy sector, and make Ontario dairy producers using such milking systems more competitive in their market. Further, as the investigations will be conducted under Ontario conditions, the results will thus be directly applicable to Ontario dairy producers.

Results

Currently not available

Related information

• Other projects which were funded through the 2009 New Directions & Alternative Renewable Fuels Research Program
• The Alternative Renewable Fuels Research and Development Fund
• The New Directions Research Program