Managerial factors affecting milking-abilities of Holstein cattle under intensive production system in Egypt.

Abstract

This article aims to explore milking-ability criteria of Holstein dairy cattle under intensive production system in Egypt and investigate some managerial factors that influence them in dairy farms. The data obtained from five herds belong to a commercial intensive production system farm, Egypt. Data included 3509 records. The values of mean ± SD (CV%) of the milking-ability criteria for Holstein dairy cattle as follow: daily milk yield, kg (dmy), milking duration, min (MD), peak flow rate, kg min^-1 (PFR), average flow rate, kg min^-1 (AFR), AFR^0:15 s of milking, AFR^15:30 s of milking, AFR^30:60 s of milking, and AFR^60:120 s of milking were 30.34 ± 6.76 kg, (22.27%); 4.16 ± 0.79 min (19.06%); 3.62 ± 0.79 (21.77%); 0.28 ± 0.11 (39.48%); 1.40 ± 0.49 (36.37%); 1.26 ± 0.50 (39.95%); and 1.96 ± 0.71 (36.05%), kg min^-1, respectively. The milking-time (a.m./p.m.) and the herds' men influenced significantly (P ≤ 0.01) on dMY, and milking-ability criteria. In addition, there was a significant effect (P˃0.05) of cows' dry-period on dMY, MD, PFR and AFR. Also, it was clearly appearing that there was a dramatic significant decrease in daily milk yield and AFR by increase mastitis infection times. Milking-ability criteria in Holstien cattle may be go better via good management, hygiene, and well-trained herds' men. The cubic models are higher in determination coefficient (p ≤ 0.05) than linear models for the curve estimates through the time of lactation period for studied traits. The curve of milk yield and milking-abilities were inconstant all over lactation period.