Once-a-day milking review

Collate existing data on once-a-day milking to provide more accurate resource material for farmers and to develop a strategy for future research in the area

There has been considerable research and demonstration work undertaken in New Zealand (NZ) and internationally on the use of once-a-day (OAD) milking as a strategy during feed shortages or to either improve lifestyle or labour use efficiency at key times of the year. These experiments and demonstration trials include the impact of nutrition, duration of milking frequency change, breed, and stage of lactation. However, these data are not centrally collated, much of the information has not been peer reviewed, and the dataset, as a whole, has not been interrogated.

Thus, the objective of this project is to collate NZ data relating to the effect of OAD milking on milk production, health, reproduction, intake, body condition score (BCS) and metabolic status and combine this information with published data from international research. Outputs will include an up to date, accessible database containing OAD information; a report summarising OAD data and a review discussing these data in conjunction with international research. The dataset, report and review will help answer contentious issues surrounding OAD milking (i.e. immediate and carry-over milk production, health, reproduction, intake, BCS and metabolic status), and will form the basis for future Research and Extension/Development strategies involving OAD milking.

Expected outcomes of this project

Benefit

An up-to-date resource on the likely implications of OAD milking at key times of the year under different management scenarios on key areas such as milk production (immediate and total lactation effects), health, reproduction, intake, BCS gain/loss and metabolic status). This will allow farmers to make more informed and effective decisions on the likely impacts of OAD on their farm business.

Uncover knowledge gaps and provide the basis for the direction of future OAD research, modelling opportunities and the development of extension strategies.