It refers to flexibility in both the timing of the milking during the day, as well as the number of milkings in a week. The most common forms of flexible milking are milking three times in two days (3-in-2) and ten milkings in seven days (10-in-7).
Implementing flexible milking
Information on this page has been gathered through experiments and from farmers already utilising flexible milking.
Read moreFlexible milking pilot farms
We followed farms that used flexible milking strategies during the 2020/21 season. See their profiles where some have regular updates throughout the season and others have an annual summary.
Read more
Podcasts
Flexible milking case study and research
What prompted the Lincoln University Demonstration Dairy Farm’s move to full-season 10-in-7 milking? And what impact has it had on animal health, fertility, production and staff wellbeing? We speak with demonstration lead Jeremy Savage. Also on the episode is DairyNZ scientist Paul Edwards, who shares what the research is telling us about the effect of different milking intervals on milk production, fat and protein yields, and even sleeping patterns for farm staff.
Better workplaces through flexible milking
Could reducing the number of milkings in a week help the dairy sector attract new staff and improve work-life balance? One farmer who’s gone to a flexible milking schedule is John Totty in Canterbury, currently starting his second full season milking 10 times in 7 days. What were his reasons for changing his milking schedule, and what kind of outcomes is he seeing?
Research papers and Farmer case studies
If you would like to read the research behind the information provided on these flexible milking pages you can read research papers and other publications relating to flexible milking here.
- Inside Dairy Oct-Nov 2021 - DairyNZ
- Reducing milking frequency from twice each day to three times each two days affected protein but not fat yield in a pasture-based dairy system (journalofdairyscience.org)
- Milking options to increase flexibility and workplace attractiveness.pdf
- Comparison of milk production and herd characteristics in New Zealand herds milked once or twice a’day (pasturesummit.co.nz)