Entrance order and side preference of buffalo cows in the milking parlour

The study was conducted to investigate the consistency of the entrance order into the milking parlour of dairy buffalo and the relationship between milking order and milk yield. In addition, the preference for a determinate side of the milking parlour has been considered. Fifty-seven primiparous buffalo cows were used. Before milking whole group entered into the waiting area and they were free to choose their position in relation to the entrance in the milking parlour, without any intervention of the stockman. Both sides of the parlour were identical and cows had access to each side of the parlour through pneumatically operated gates. They were milked in a 5 x 5 auto-tandem milking parlour. For each cow, entrance order into milking parlour, side where she was milked and milk yield were recorded. These data were derived from computerised cows’ identification.. A constancy of the entrance order into milking parlour was found. More productive cows tended to enter the milking parlour first. Twenty-seven cows (47.4%) preferred the right side of the milking parlour, 25 the left side (43.8%) and the remaining 5 (8.8%) showed no preference. Forty-three out of 57 animals were milked in 99-100% occasions in the same side. Nine of the animals showing a side preference also exhibited a stall preference. Our results showed that buffaloes can present marked entrance order consistency and side preference.