Cow evaluation and selection by udder quality during robotic milking

Abstract

On two farms of the Republic of Tatarstan with robotic milking technology, studies were conducted to evaluate udder morphofunctional properties of the cows of the Kholmogory breed of the Tatarstan type and the Holstein breed. The animals were evaluated according to the generally accepted methodology “Evaluation of udder and milk ejection in dairy and dual-purpose cattle” and by using a new methodology - calculation of the udder development index. It was found that in terms of udder girth, length and width, the Holstein cows surpassed their counterparts of the Kholmogory breed by 4.7, 8.2 and 5.9%, respectively. Teat length and diameter were almost the same in cows of both breeds and did not deviate from the requirements of robotic milking technology. All trial animals of the Holstein breed have cup-shaped and bowl-shaped udders; among the cows of the Kholmogory breed, 26.7% have round-shaped udders. Having an advantage of 39.1% in one-time milk yield, Holstein cows are milked only by 10.5% longer which is due to higher milking intensity - 2.04 kg min as compared to 1.64. The index evaluation of the udder including the evaluation of udder properties on a five-point scale followed by the calculation of the udder development index, showed that the average index of the Kholmogory cows made 0.85, and Holstein cows - 0.88. At the same time, 26.6% and 40% of animals of the Kholmogory and Holstein breeds, respectively, had a desirable index above 0.9.