The influence of calf rearing methods and milking methods on performance traits of crossbred dairy cattle in Thailand – 1. Milk yield and udder health

Abstract. Forty crossbred (75–87.5% HF) dairy cows were included in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment composed of hand milking (HM) or machine milking (MM), and artificial rearing (bucket feeding, BR) or restricted suckling (RS). Calf suckling and milk feeding was done until 84 days postpartum. Milking was continued until the end of lactation. MM cows had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher daily saleable milk production (SMP) (7.49 vs. 6.97 kg/day), daily total milk production (TMP) (8.60 vs. 7.96 kg/day) and total lactation milk yield (TLMY) (2297.72 vs. 2137.41 kg) than HM cows. The RS cows had a significantly (P < 0.001) higher TLMY (2455.46 vs. 1979.68 kg), annual total milk yield (ATMY) (2277.23 vs. 1970.73 kg), lactation saleable milk yield (LSMY) (2165.90 vs. 1724.64 kg), annual saleable milk yield (ASMY) (2035.21 vs. 1721.17 kg) and daily saleable milk production (SMP) (7.98 vs. 6.47 kg/day) than the BR cows. The MM cows showed a significantly (p < 0.001) higher somatic cell score (SCS) than their HM herdmates throughout the study period. The BR cows exhibited a significantly (p < 0.001) higher SCS than RS cows