Investigations on milk quality criteria of German Holstein and German Fleckvieh cows in comparison of conventional and automatic milking system

Milk quality criteria were studied in a mixed herd of German Holstein (n = 60) and German Fleckvieh (n = 58) cows by comparing a conventional 2 x 4 Au to-Tandem with an automatic milking system from January 1999 to June 1999. Both breeds showed a higher protein, lactose. and somatic cell content in t he automatic milking system. The fat content besides a higher daily milk yi eld increased alone in German Fleckvieh. The correlation between somatic ce ll content and electrical conductivity with r = 0.26 was only significant f or German Fleckvieh - despite a corresponding average level for both traits within each breed. Therefore the electrical conductivity might not be used as a single indicator of milk quality deviations in terms of udder health.