Question for our Dairy…………..

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   Farmers here. Of those that switched to 3x per day milking, in the long run are you glad you did it? Did the boost in gross revenue equal to or boost net revenue? If you had to decide all over again, would stay with 2x, or go to 3x? For those that are 2x, do want to go to 3x?

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Lars(wi) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Permian Basin Points: 8230	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lars(wi) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Question for our Dairy………….. Posted: 02 Dec 2025 at 12:15pm
	Farmers here. Of those that switched to 3x per day milking, in the long run are you glad you did it? Did the boost in gross revenue equal to or boost net revenue? If you had to decide all over again, would stay with 2x, or go to 3x? For those that are 2x, do want to go to 3x?
	I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.

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dr p Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 24 Feb 2019 Location: new york Points: 1437	Post Options Post Reply Quote dr p Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Dec 2025 at 6:59pm
	If you have the labor and parlor capacity, they say it pays. If you have a high group and a low group, i would start with the high group and see how it goes. Interesting, cows that have access to a robot and are in the early part of their lactation will get milked 5 or 6 times per day. Every once in a while, i get one who is really cranking, like 150lbs per day and i will milk her first and then milk her again right before i leave the barn so she never gets more than 10 hours of milk in her udder

DaveKamp Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Apr 2010 Location: LeClaire, Ia Points: 6102	Post Options Post Reply Quote DaveKamp Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 hours 46 minutes ago at 5:04pm
	I'm no dairy farmer... matter of fact, I'm not even a farmer... I DID milk a cow twice, and I didn't get kicked, so I guess I was lucky... but here's a silly note someone passed to me once: The Soviet method of increasing milk production while reducing food costs: Milk them twice as often... feed them only half as much... Which is why, even after the dissolution, the remnants of Sovietness is still very poor... Dr P's point about the robot is pretty clear- the cow's sensory input is a formidable gauge... if that cow's system is ready, they choose it, and you get the high result. Obviously, without the robot, it's not only a difficult thing to accomplish (manpower can't just stand by), it is also practically impossible for the cow to adopt a conditioned regular response... you can't associate it with something like... ringing a bell. So... (scratching engineering head)... How would one do this WITHOUT the robot?
	Ten Amendments, Ten Commandments, and one Golden Rule solve most every problem. Citrus hand-cleaner with Pumice does the rest.

Riprock Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Bronze Level Access Joined: 13 Feb 2021 Location: Tennessee Points: 42	Post Options Post Reply Quote Riprock Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8 hours 49 minutes ago at 10:01pm
	I worked on a dairy for around 15 years as the dairyman. We went to 3x for about a year and production went up, cows were more active so they ate more. The best thing was udder health. I think I treated 1 cow in a 100 cow herd while we milked 3x. We didn't have many problems before but I was amazed at the improvement, and low cell counts. The problems came when the owner switched back to 2x. 3x milking got old in a hurry to some. All in all it was the beginning of the end. As we know cows are a creature of habit, any changes can be a big deal. Mastitis became a real problem and the added stress brought on more issues. We went through a round with hairy warts, usually not a big deal but it became a big deal, everything makes a difference. If you plan to go 3x, have a plan. Labor that wants to milk, not someone filling a slot. We thought after a dry period the problems would subside, but they really didn't, so turnover rates went higher. High producing cows are a challenge to start with, it just all adds up. As the guy who was "in the pit" I can't offer any knowledge on the dollar figures, but I do know 3x made a good herd a much better herd.

DMiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Hermann, Mo Points: 34715	Post Options Post Reply Quote DMiller Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 1 hour 54 minutes ago at 4:56am
	Automated farm near the old family place that took on much of production in that area milks 2x per day, cows are established to a routine and production remains fairly constant. He comment to keeping up volume was allowing a decreasing delivery cow to rest after a couple years, she will stop producing then re breed her and production Level resumes. Is not about feed or patterns, is more of return to naturalized cycles. He has a separate test herd he milks a year after calf weening, then rebreeds and is seeing that as a higher production on sales and quality yet loss of time during pregnancy and calf feed up. 6 of one Half dozen the other.