Seconds that count: what does the length of time a cow is milked reveal?

When dozens or even hundreds of cows are milked every day, seconds matter. Not just because they add up to hours. But also because they reveal whether the milking is being done correctly.

How long does it take to milk a single cow?

There is no one magic time, but in global practice, the most commonly cited physiological milking time is between five and seven minutes [1]. If milking lasts as little as three minutes – it is likely that the milking machine has been removed too early. If it exceeds eight or nine minutes – over-milking, malfunctioning of the equipment or improper milking preparation may be suspected [2].

Why is this important?

A too short milking may indicate that the cow has not been properly prepared. Without sufficient stimulus, oxytocin release does not occur and the cow does not express milk well enough. This often results in lower milk yield, milk residue and increased risk of mastitis [3].

Overlong milking is also not good – it often indicates that the machine is running on empty because the milk has long been expressed. This is known as "overmilking". It damages the tissues of the teats and eventually contributes to mastitis, increased somatic cell counts and/or hyperkeratosis of the teats [4].

How to monitor milking time?

If there is no automatic recording of milking time on the farm, it is recommended to monitor milking time periodically for at least a few cows at each milking. A simple clock can be used to start with – when the machine is on and when it is off. Better still, use evaluation protocols that help to monitor not only duration but also teat condition [5].

Are all cows the same?

No. Duration can vary according to the stage of lactation, milk yield, health, breed or even time of day. However, this does not mean that duration cannot be a controllable parameter. On the contrary, it is a very clear indicator of how your milking process is working [1].

Practical tip:

Choose one milking per week during which you count the milking time of ten cows. If you see a systematic deviation, discuss it with the team. Every extra or lost second – is not only working time, but also the health of the cow.

Literature

[1] Ouweltjes, W. et al. (2020). Milking time, milk yield and milking interval in automatic milking systems. Journal of Dairy Science, 103(3), 2655–2665. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17260

[2] Bach, A. et al. (2022). Milking duration and speed as indicators of machine functionality and cow preparation. Journal of Dairy Research, 89(2), 143–149. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022029921001029

[3] Wall, E. et al. (2015). The importance of proper pre-milking stimulation for milk let-down and udder health. Animal, 9(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731114002632

[4] Zucali, M. et al. (2013). Effects of overmilking on teat-end condition. Journal of Dairy Science, 96(9), 5740–5745. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2012-6289

[5] Gleeson, D. et al. (2021). Monitoring teat condition and milking performance on farms without automatic cluster removers. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research, 60(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.15212/ijafr-2020-0078

Expert Julija Sachnevyč (milking process consultant, UAB Gameta LT)