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Responsible for the topic: 
Dr. Sandra Rose
(
Dept.
5)
Udder-friendly milking techniques
Intensive
animal-machine-contact appears especially during the
milking process. In spite of many technical improvements the
mechanical milking process is a physiological strain.
Systematically scientific analysis to reduce
this problem is missing. Udder diseases (independent of
the causes) are recognized often too late. The reliability of automatic
control systems for udder health / milk quality is
insufficient. Also the working field of the milker especially the work load should be analysed and optimised. The aim of this research group is to analyse the influence from different milking technique parameters to udder health and in a second step to examine develop a better milking for cows.
In a bilateral project between ATB in Bornim and VUZT Prague is to find out application possibilities of thermal imaging in
the field of udder health diagnostics and tasks of udder gently milking. Thermal imaging can be utilised in animal husbandry for health and fertility diagnostics. The easy IR measurement of udder and teats skin temperature makes it possible to utilise thermal imaging for the evaluation of the impacts of milking machines on the teats and udder. Images were taken on udder and teat temperature in conventional and automatic milking systems. Milking forces influence the blood circulation and thus the skin temperature. The measured temperature distribution across the teats can therefore be used to analyse the effects on the teats and the quality of the milking process.
Taking the position of the milking clusters into account,
the forces on the teats during the
milking process are being quantified. The influence of different parameters like "milker", "support arm" and "type of milking parlour" should be analysed with the help of force measurements. Technical details of the milking
clusters have to be classified referring to their specific
load. Results of the studies will contribute to an
improved construction of the milking
clusters.
Different clusters and milking systems are checked for there  vacuum stability (mean vacuum and vacuum fluctuations) by different milk flows. In the measurements are new prototypes of milking systems integrated which have a single tube system without claw for conventional milking parlours.
Besides the analyses of physiological and physical milking parameters, the physical work load to the milker is analysed with the help of video systems. There is a manifest risk of suffering injury to the forearm, wrist and hand during machine milking especially during the attaching task. The aim is to quantify the work load in different milking systems with different methods and to find ideas for better work conditions.
The concentration and variability of sodium and
potassium in the foremilk is being determined as a
criterion for udder health. The results are linked to simple analytical parameter (electrical
conductivity, chloride-concentration, somatic cell count).
The aim is to development earlier and more reliable sensor
technology for udder disease detection.
Research
structure (overview)
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