1X milking reduces milk yield

Once-daily milking, a practice that is gaining popularity in seasonal-calving herds in other countries, yielded mixed results during a recent study.

Research from Ireland and the United Kingdom shows that spring-calving Holstein-Friesian cows that were milked just once a day for the first four weeks of lactation gave nearly 20 percent less milk than cows milked 3X. This negative effect persisted through the first half of lactation.

However, energy balance tended to be less negative for the 1X cows than the 3X cows. Less-frequent milking also had reproductive benefits. First ovulation occurred about 10 days earlier in the 1X cows than the 3X cows (18.3 days versus 28.6 days, respectively).

The research appeared in the May Journal of Dairy Science.

1. Workshop to discuss nutrient application, management, stewardship
2. Help for flood affected farmers
3. Ag markets diverged significantly Friday afternoon
4. Vilsack: Food, Farm and Jobs Bill critical for U.S. producers
5. Ag markets decidedly mixed on Friday morning
6. Dairy among best snacks for diabetics

1. Beware of the soy milk after-taste face
2. Monsters love milk, too
3. Salma Hayek: Milk part of 'perfect' breakfast
4. What sick day? Farmers take just three a year
5. Activists at the door
6. IDFA: Opposition to Dairy Supply Management mounts

1. Analysis: Dairy Security Act better for farmers, taxpayers
2. IDFA: Opposition to Dairy Supply Management mounts
3. World food supply depends on character, virtuous leadership
4. Commentary: Slanting the statistics
5. Buffet concerned about soil and starvation
6. Cold spring stunts upper Midwest hay crop