Effects of Pulsation Ratio, Pulsation Rate, and Teatcup Liner Design on Milking Rate and Milk Production

Twelve Holstein cows were used in a 12 x 12 Latin square (two replicates) to test the effects of pulsation ratio, pulsation rate, and teatcup liner design on milking rate and production.Pulsation ratios tested were 5050, W40, and 7030.Pulsation rates tested were 50 and 60.Two experimental teatcup liners (barrel wall thicknesses of 2.5 or 3.0 mm) were tested.Overall analysis of variance showed effects on millring rate and milk production for pulsation ratio (total yield, machine-on time, average flow rate, 2-min yield, percentage yield at 2 min, fat yield, and 3.5% FCM) and teatcup liner design (2-min yield), The 7030 ratio produced lower machine-on time than 50: 50 and 60:40, and it was lower for 60:40 than 50:50.Average machjne-on times were 5050,8.44min per milking; 60:40, 8.00 min per millring; and 70:30, 7.47 min per milking.The 7030 ratio yielded more 3.5% FCM per milking than 5050 (13.8 vs. 13.0 kg).Pulsation rate did not affect any millring rate measurements or (Key words: pulsation rate, pulsation ratio, milking rate) milk production.