Association of some milking parameters with milk quality of smallholder dairy farms in Samsun region, Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the association between some milking factors and milk quality in dairy cows. While questionnaires collected from a total of 50 smallholder farms in Bafra and Samsun, number of milkers (NM), milking duration (MD), care frequency for milking machine (CMM) and age of milking machine (AMM) were used as milking parameters. Milk quality was measured by somatic cell count (SCC) of milk by direct microscopy. Milk parameters were assessed in two groups according to SCC: <400,000 and >400,000 cells ml(-1), respectively. Data were analyzed by SPSS, and no statistical difference was found in each parameter by SCC thresholds. However, significant (P<0.01) difference was determined among MD means by NM groups. Estimated correlation (r=-0.47; P<0.01) indicated that lower NM causes to shorter MD during milking activity. The results of the study suggest that dairy farmers should focus on milking factors to obtain more quality milk.