Effect of Eliminating Machine Stripping of Dairy Cows on Milk Production, Residual Milk, and Mastitis

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Abstract
Eighteen cows of 3 breeds were divided into pairs according to breed and previous milk production. One member of each pair was milked and machine-stripped in the usual manner. The udder of the 2nd member was not handled after machine application, nor was pressure exerted on the teat cups. The machine was removed when milk flow stopped, as observed through a plastic sight glass attached to the milker pail lid. The treatments were reversed at the end of 4 weeks and again at the end of eight weeks. No significant differences were found in the daily milk production or the milk fat percentage (P>>0.05) between the 2 treatments. A negative regression coefficient (P<<0.10) of treatment differences (daily milk yield during stripping minus that during nonstripping) on daily milk production was found for individual cows, indicating that lower producing cows had a greater reduction in production due to the elimination of stripping than higher producers. The percentage residual milk was significantly higher (P<0.05) for cows not stripped than those stripped (14.0% vs. 12.8%). No differences in leukocyte or California Mastitis Test scores were noted between treatments.