Measuring Milk Flow of Dairy Cows

Milk flow measurements on 124 cows were analyzed to deternfine how they are affected by vacuum level, pulsation rate, pulsation ratio of the milking maehine, and the breed, age, stage of laetation, and milk yield of the cow.Average rate of flow prior to machine stripping, yield during the first minute, and yield during the first 2 rain of milking were highly correlated with maxinmm rate of milk flow.These measurements were significantly inereased by days in milk, vacuum level, pulsation rate, pulsation ratio, and total yield.Age at calving had a slight effeet on yield during the first minute of milking.The use of yield during the first 2 rain of milking is outlined as a method for evaluation of milk flow of daughters of bulls used in artifieial insemination.