Milking frequency

Milking frequency is the number of times a dairy animal is milked during a given period; dairy cattle are generally milked twice daily. Increasing frequency to three times daily generally raises milk yield but also raises labor and energy costs and can affect milk composition, udder health, and animal welfare. Robotic milking systems let cows choose their own frequency, often averaging two to three visits per day. Producers balance yield gains against costs, somatic cell counts, and mastitis risk when setting the schedule, and alteration of milking frequency is known to shift milk fat and protein percentages as well as total volume.