Evaluation of the performance of the first automatic milking system for buffaloes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of buffaloes to automatic milking, examining the relationships between milking interval, milk production, and milking time for this species. A total of 7,550 milking records from an average of 40 buffaloes milked by an automatic milking system (AMS) were analyzed during a 3-mo experimental period at a commercial farm with Italian Mediterranean buffaloes in southern Italy. Date and time of animal identification, milk yield, milking duration, milking interval, and average milk flow rate were determined for each milking. The results were also used to predict the maximum number of milkings per day and the optimal number of buffaloes per AMS for different levels of milk production. The average interval period between 2 consecutive milkings was 10.3 h [standard deviation (SD) 3.3]. Overall, 3.4 and 25.7% of the milkings had an interval of ≤ 6 h or >12 h, respectively. Milking duration averaged 8.3 min per buffalo per milking (SD 2.7). The average milk flow rate was 1.3 kg/min (SD 0.5) at a milk yield of 2.8 kg per milking (SD 1.4). Assuming that the milking station is occupied 80% of the time, the number of milkings ranged from 136 to 152 per day and the optimal number of buffaloes per AMS ranged from 59 to 66 when the production level increased from 2 to 5 kg of milk per milking. Automatic milking systems are suitable for buffalo, opening new options for the management of dairy buffalo farms.

Effects of the working vacuum level on mechanical milking of buffalo.

Mechanized milking has become widely used for buffaloes in Italy in recent years, thus improving the management and the productivity of farms. The apparent similarities between buffalo and cattle have often resulted in applying the same milking systems and techniques currently used for dairy cows. Considering the effect of mechanical milking on animal health, productivity, and welfare in intensive livestock farming, this study compares the effects of milking at low vacuum (36 kPa) and medium vacuum (42 kPa) on milk emission characteristics and milking system performance. Individual milk flow curves were registered to analyze milk yield, average flow rate, and milking time, and milking operations were recorded to evaluate the system performances. When using 36 kPa vacuum, a significant increase in milking time and in the lag time before milk ejection occurred, as well as a decrease in average flow rate and residual milk. However, the vacuum level did not influence both milk yield and milk ejection time. As a consequence of decreasing the vacuum level to 36 kPa, the milking system throughput was decreased at most by 5 buffalo/h.

[Biomechanical risk in two dairy industries with different levels of mechanization]. / Valutazione del rischio biomeccanico in due caseifici industriali con differente grado di meccanizzazione.

Risks of biomechanical overload of the upper limbs and of altered posture are not well investigated in dairy industry. This study carries out an evaluation of ergonomic and postural risk in two cheese factories in North Sardinia, characterized by a different level of automation, in order to point out at the more dangerous activities for biomechanical overload and to check possible improvements determined by mechanization. Ergonomic analysis has been performed by using NIOSH and OSHA check-lists, and then using the Strain Index method for repetitive movements. Results show that mechanization has a great importance in reducting ergonomic risk, mainly in the salting phase, where SI was lowered from 40.5 to 4.5, and in the cheese shaping (SI 9 vs. 36). Some simple ergonomic solutions and preventive measures have been suggested.