Ideal Inter-milking Interval

The ideal interval between two successive milkings should be:

Correct Answer: 12 hours

The ideal inter-milking interval (time between two successive milkings) is 12 hours. This maintains a balance between milk accumulation and udder health.

Milking Schedule

• Most dairy farms follow twice-daily milking: once in morning, once in evening — ideally 12 hours apart.
• Longer intervals → more milk accumulated → higher fat concentration (evening milk has more fat than morning milk).
• Very short intervals → reduced milk production and udder stress.

Machine Milking Parameters (Key Values)

• Minimum herd size for machine milking: 20 animals
• Pulsation rate: 55–65 per minute (optimum: 60 cycles/minute)
• Pulsation ratio for cattle: 60/40; for buffalo: 50/50
• Ideal vacuum for cattle: 352 mmHg; for buffalo: 400 mmHg