The effect of relocation on milk removal in primiparous dairy cows reared in different rearing systems during the early postnatal period

The aim of the experiment was to determine whether different rearing systems for dairy calves before weaning could later influence their response to change of milking place in maturity, i.e. to milking in an unknown place. During the pre-experimental period, 96 primiparous Holstein calves were reared in three different housing systems (32 in each group) before weaning at 60 days. The first group was reared in loose housing and fed by an automatic milk replacer drinker, the second group was reared in individual hutches, the third was kept in loose housing with nursing cows during the first two months of life. After weaning all calves were reared under the same housing and feeding conditions in a loose housing barn. Then 33 of them (13 from the first group, 12 from the second, and 8 from the third) were used for the experiment as lactating dairy cows. After morning milking the cows were relocated from the loose housing where they were milked in the parlour to tie housing and milked in the stall. The parameters of both systems of milking were similar. The volume of milk recorded in the first three min of milking was reduced during the first evening and following morning milking after relocation (P<0.05). Furthermore, the negative effect of relocation was stronger in the group reared under nursing cows as compared with the two other groups, but only during the first evening milking (P<0.05). In conclusion, relocation delayed the commencement of milk ejection. The commencement of milk ejection of cows can be postponed if the type of their housings during early postnatal period is taken into account.


ICAR Technical Series -No 10
The effect of relocation on milk removal The effect of relocation on milk removal The effect of relocation on milk removal The effect of relocation on milk removal The effect of relocation on milk removal in primiparous dairy cows reared in primiparous dairy cows reared in primiparous dairy cows reared in primiparous dairy cows reared in primiparous dairy cows reared in different rearing systems during early in different rearing systems during early in different rearing systems during early in different rearing systems during early in different rearing systems during early postnatal period postnatal period postnatal period postnatal period postnatal period The milk removal process in dairy cows is negatively influenced by many factors in dairy practice (Tancin and Bruckmaier, 2001. These factors can influence milk removal at central (inhibition of oxytocin release from pituitary) and peripheral levels (inhibition of oxytocin effect in udder). The central disturbances are the main reasons of the milk removal problems in the dairy practice, however, the mechanisms involved are not understood in dairy cows (Bruckmaier et al., 1998). The change of the milking environment is one of the negative factors influencing the milk removal (Macuhova at al., 2001). However, there is a high individual variability in milk removal efficiency during milking in a new milking place (Tancin et al., 2000). The development of responses to stress is dependent on the early experiences of the infant rats (Zimmerberg et al., 2003).
The aim of present experiment was to determine whether different rearing systems for calves in early postnatal period could influence the milk removal in response to unknown milking place in maturity.
During pre-experimental period ninety-six primiparous Holstein calves were reared in three different housing systems (32 in each group) before weaning at 60 days. First group were reared in loose housing and fed by automatic milk replacer drinker; second group were reared in individual hutches and third one were kept in loose housing with nursing cows during first two months of life. After weaning all calves were reared under the same housing and feeding conditions in loose housing barn. Then 33 of them (13 from first group, 12 from second and 8 from third) were used for the experiment as lactating dairy cows. After morning milking the cows were relocated from the loose housing where they were milked in the parlour to tie housing and milked in the stall. The parameters

Conference on "Physiological and technical aspects of machine milking"
The effect of relocation on milk removal of both systems of milking were similar. The volume of milk recorded in first three minutes of milking was reduced during first evening and following morning milking after relocation (P<0.05). Furthermore, the negative effect of relocation was stronger in the group reared under nursing cows as compared with other two ones but only during first evening milking (P<0.05).
In conclusion, the first milkings after relocation negatively influenced the commencement of milk ejection, which should be considered by milkers to put more attention to such cows. Also the individual response of the cows to relocation could be influenced by their rearing conditions in early postnatal period of life. However, the endocrine study is needed to explain the possible effects of rearing conditions on milk removal in the new place.