Measuring Milk Flow of Dairy Cows

Abstract Milk flow measurements on 124 cows were analyzed to determine how they are affected by vacuum level, pulsation rate, pulsation ratio of the milking machine, and the breed, age, stage of lactation, and milk yield of the cow. Average rate of flow prior to machine stripping, yield during the first minute, and yield during the first 2min of milking were highly correlated with maximum rate of milk flow. These measurements were significantly increased by days in milk, vacuum level, pulsation rate, pulsation ratio, and total yield. Age at calving had a slight effect on yield during the first minute of milking. The use of yield during the first 2min of milking is outlined as a method for evaluation of milk flow of daughters of bulls used in artificial insemination.