Effects of milking methods on test-day milk yield and milk quality traits in early lactating multiparous buffalo cows and the relationships among these parameters

Özet

Buffaloes are not fully adapted to machine milking because they are generally milked manually. Therefore, a comprehensive examination of the relationships between milking practices and productivity is critical to obtain high quality milk products. The aims of the present study were i) to investigate the effects of different milking methods on test-day milk yield (TDMY) and milk quality traits [dry matter (DM), fat, solids-not-fat (SNF), protein, fat-to-protein ratio (FPR), lactose, density, freezing point (FP), somatic cell count (SCC), pH and electrical conductivity (EC) in multiparous Anatolian buffalo cows and ii) to investigate the relationships among these milk quality traits. The study material consisted of 120 milk samples collected from 60 buffalo cows machine and hand milked in five barns at the same location on a family farm. The collected milk samples were analysed for their milk components (DM, fat, SNF, protein lactose, density and FP), SCC, pH value, and EC value using the following devices: i) a milk analyser, ii) a portable somatic cell counter, iii) a pH meter, and iv) an EC-meter equipped with a conductometric sensor. The statistical analyses were conducted using t-test and Pearson Correlation procedures. The quantitative (DM, fat, protein, density, SCC, EC, and pH)-qualitative (TDMY) milk parameters of hand-milked cows was found to be higher than that of machine-milked cows. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between SCC and pH and EC values. It was determined that milk DM, SNF and lactose percentages decreased as TDMY value increased. The SCC and EC displayed a negative correlation with the milk fat percentages, and a positive correlation with milk mineral percentages. Although manual milking improves quantitative-qualitative milk parameters  in buffalo cows, it may pose more risks to their udder health and milk hygiene. Therefore, the advantages and disadvantages of current milking practices should be carefully considered.