Yield and quality of milk and udder health in Martina Franca ass: effects of daily interval and time of machine milking

• Main Authors: Giovanni Martemucci, Michele Pizzillo, Salvatore Claps, Rosanna De Petro De Petro, Angela Gabriella D’Alessandro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2010-01-01
• Series: Italian Journal of Animal Science
• Subjects: Ass milk, Machine milking, Yield, Quality
• Online Access: http://www.aspajournal.it/index.php/ijas/article/view/549
• ISSN: 1594-4077; 1828-051X

Twenty asses of Martina Franca breed, machine milked twice a day, were used to assess the influence of milking interval (3-h, 5-h, and 8-h; N=5) and time (700, 1200 and 1900) on milk yield and udder health. Individual milk samples were taken to determine fat, protein and lactose con- tent. Sensory analysis profile was also assessed. Milk&rsquo;s total bacterial count (TBC), somatic cell con- tent (SCC) and udder&rsquo;s skin temperature were considered to assess udder health. Milk yield increases by 28.4% (P<0.01) with a milking interval from 3-h to 8-h and is higher (P<0.01) at morning milking. The maximum milk yield per milking corresponds to 700 milking (1416.9 mL) thus indicating a circa- dian rhythm in milk secretion processes. Milking intervals of 5 and 8 hours cause a decrease (P<0.01) in milk fat and lactose content. The 8-h interval leads to an increase (P<0.01) in SCC but without any significance for the health udder. No alterations about CBT, clinical evaluation and temperature of ud- der were observed. Milk organoleptic characteristics were better in the 3-h interval milking.