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Effects of Vacuum Level and Milking Duration on Udder Health in Mastitis-free First Calf Heifers¹

Departments of Animal Industries and Animal Diseases, Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station

Geoffrey Beall

Mathematics Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs

ABSTRACT

The use of the mechanical milker has been associated many times with an increased incidence of mastitis. Burkey and Sanders (3) and Little and Plastridge (14) indicate that the main factors in machine milking that may contribute to mastitis are excessive vacuum, leaving the machine attached after milk flow has ceased, and attaching the machine before adequate let-down has occurred. Dodd et al. (7) found a higher incidence of clinical mastitis in 19 first calf heifers subjected to an 8-minute milking duration for an entire lactation than in a similar group of heifers subjected to a 4-minute duration.

The occurrence of teat lesions and injuries has been found to coincide with an increased incidence of infection (1, 3, 13, 21). Espe and Cannon (8) and Kennedy (13) have associated irritation and teat erosion with machine milking, and other workers (3, 12) have attributed erosions specifically to abnormally high vacuum.

In view of the lack of adequately controlled experiments on the significance of the milking machine as related to bovine mastitis, this project was undertaken in an attempt to establish an optimum vacuum level for the bucket-type milker used and to determine the possible detrimental effects of leaving the milker attached after cessation of milk flow.

¹ This project was supported in part by funds provided by the DeLaval Separator Co. and the Charles H. Hood Dairy Foundation. These data are taken in part from a thesis presented to the Graduate School of the University of Connecticut by E. D. Mochrie in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. A preliminary report of this work was presented at the 1952 annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Production.

² Present address: American Breeders Service, Star Route, Asheville, North Carolina.