Milking is one of the most important dairy practices to achieve higher production and income from the dairy animals. Study was conducted at Livestock Experiment Station Jahangirabad, District Khanewal, to investigate the effect of milking systems and methods on milk production, milk composition and udder health in Sahiwal cattle. Sixteen Sahiwal cows in the 31 and 4th lactation were randomly allocated to four treatments designated as A, B, C and D kept under twice a day manual milking, thrice a day manual, twice machine and thrice a day machine milking, respectively.

Mean daily dry matter intake in cows on treatments A, B, C and D was 8.89±0.39, 9.57±0.20, 9.3 1±0.66 and 10.35±0.55 kg per day, respectively. Mean milk yield in cows on treatment A, B, C and D was 9.02±0.75, 11.44±0.73, 9.12±0.45 and 11.75±0.62 kg, respectively. Mean body weight of cows on treatment A, B, C and D was 372.43±28.96, 365.46±4.75, 366.96±25.37 and 369.61±24.48 kg, respectively. Mean protein level in milk on treatments A, B, C and D was 3.35±0.06, 3.25±0.06, 3.35±0.06 and 3.22±0.08 %, respectively. Milk protein was reduced in thrice a day milking cows. Fat percentage was comparatively higher in two times milking cows than three times milking, while machine did not make any difference as compared to hand milking. A statistically significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in fat level of the cows milked twice and thrice a day. Milking methods showed no significant difference in lactose contents between treatments. Solid not fat contents between treatments were non significant (P>0.05). Mean value for SNF contents in cows' milk on different treatments A, B, C and D was 9.00±0.40, 8.90±0.04, 9.00±0.40 and 8.90±0.04 %, respectively. The cows on treatments A, B, C and D showed total solid contents of 12.7±0.04, 12.4±0.04, 12.7±0.04, and 12.4±0.04%, respectively. Non significant (P>0.05) difference between treatments was recorded in pH of milk. Mean milking time per cow was highest (690±99.09 seconds) on treatment B, followed by A (587±43.16), D (497±28.67) and C (464±83.53). Milk quality of cows was excellent on treatments C and D, milked by machine and milk from cows on manual milking (A and B) was not better in quality than milk from machine.. Mastitis was observed on treatment A (25 %) and no case was observed in cows on other treatments.

Conclusion:

It was concluded that machine milking can be practiced in Sahiwal cattle without any harmful effects and maximum production of excellent quality milk can be harvested by thrice a day milking in high yielder animals.