Vol. 9, Special Issue 1 (2024)

Author(s): Naveen Kumar P, Vivek M Patil, Mahadevappa D Gouri, Guruprasad R, Madhusudhan HS and Shivaraj BM

Abstract: The present study was carried out to evaluate two milking methods—hand milking system (HMS) and community machine milking system (CMS) in the jurisdiction of the Kolar-Chikkaballapura Milk Union Ltd. In order to compare the efficiency of different milking systems, 3 villages having functioning community milking stations were randomly selected from each district, giving a total of 6 villages. In each village, 12 dairy farmers, 6 using hand milking system and 6 using community milking system, were randomly selected. The milking temperament and teat condition score of 216 lactating cows belonging to the respondents was studied. The Milking Temperament score was better in CMS (1.18±0.041) as compared to HMS (1.62±0.063) due to better and hygienic milking surroundings and half of the milking time as compared to HMS. HMS had better Teat Condition Score (1.50±0.093) and Teat End Callosity (1.40±0.056) as compared to CMS (2.26±0.065 and 2.18±0.077, respectively) due to fluctuations in vacuum pressure causing deformation of teat tissues, teat sinus injuries and excessive deposition of keratin at the external teat orifice. It can be concluded that while Community Machine Milking System is an innovative solution to reduce labour requirement for milking at small dairy farms and leads to a better milking temperament score, the inferior teat condition score and teat end callosity needs to be addressed by way of regular maintenance of milking machines, frequent inspection and replacement of liners, and adequate training of staff handling machines.