Milking Cows Four and Six Times per Day (4X-6X) and its Impact on Animal Performance

Abstract

Increasing the frequency of milk removal increases absolute milk output in cows during an established lactation. Recent studies indicate that high frequency of milking in the first three weeks of lactation can produce lasting increases in persistency after the milking frequency returns to 2 or 3X. This approach reduces the labor requirement of continuous frequent milking. However, a number of management factors need to be considered to effectively implement increased milking frequency. This paper presents evidence of the response, describes collateral effects and discusses possible limitations to implementation.