Eureka! Institutional Repository

The purpose of this study was the recording and assessment of the milking parlors and milking techniques in dairy farms of the Regions Units of Thrace. The data, collection method used, was the personal interview, using a specially questionnaire. The surgery began in February 2015 and was completed July 2015, with visits to 52 dairy farms (93.40±71.40 dairy cattle, 20.6±7.9 kg. milk/cattle/daily) in the Regions Units (RU) of Thrace. In this areas, there are farms of all sizes that constitute 14.43%of dairy farms and produce 13.20% of cow milk the country. According to the results, 69% of the dairy had holding areas and milking parlors. Concerning the types of milking parlors in these farms, 9% were of «herringbone double row», 27% of « herringbone singe row » and 23% were of «side opening». The remaining farms, mostly small sized, corresponding to 31% of the dairy farms, used «portable milking machines with hand truck type of buckets». With regards to automation, 69% of the farms had automatic washing of the milking parlors, 25% had automatic detachment system after milking and 24% automatic recording of the milk production. Responsible for milking, in most farms, were the owners by 36%, in 31% family members, 24% were workers and only 9% were the owners and workers of those farms. A 61% of the farms performed a general maintenance on the milking assembly every six months, 8% performed it annually and a 31% whenever it was necessary. In 41% of the livestock maintenance, it was performed by a specialist workshop, in 27% by another crew and in 32% by the owners themselves. A 52% of the farms performed breast washing (with a wet towel), 38% with breast drying ( with dried towel), in 64%, visual inspection on the first ray of milk was performed, before the cleaning of the breast and in 62% the breast were dipped in disinfectant after the milking. In 76% of the farms, the milk was received daily, usually after the morning milking, whilst in the rest, every two days. In conclusion, the cow production holding of the Regions Units of Thrace. a large number of farms uses older, well maintained, modern milking units, whilst holding milking techniques and related hygiene rules in high regard