Consistency Breed Success - Milking Routine

The most important factor is consistency of a milking routine that every one can follow, as every milking is critical to success. One of the biggest misconceptions at most dairies is lack of time to practice all the necessary steps. Many dairies are so driven by efficiency they lose focus on milk quality. Steps towards a consistent milking routine:

• Territorial vs Sequential Milk Routine: one milker working in a group of cows and doing the entire milking routine for that group is the most consistent for performance and speed.
• Clean gloves periodically with warm water and sanitizer or by using automatic faucets
• Ideal lag time from the start of the milking routine to unit attachment is 60 seconds. If teats are swollen with milk when units are attached, stimulation and lag time is good.
• Proper teat pre-dipping and post-dipping controls environmental bacteria as well as Staph Aureus, which tends to colonize on the teat skin. Have 75-90% of the teat surface covered for a minimum of 20-30 seconds - long enough to kill the bacteria.
• Fore-stripping produces higher milking flow rates (up to 3-9 pounds more milk) and lower SCC.
• Drying towel removes the most bacteria from the teat and provides extra stimulation. The secret to successful drying is to make sure the teat end is wiped dry.
• Regular maintenance of milking equipment and cleaning the parlor is critical.
• The approved milking routine should be given to every employee and posted in the parlor as a reminder of what is to be expected. A common mistake made is not properly training new employees. Every 'new milker' should be trained for two to three days before being allowed to milk alone.

Adapted from presentation made by Dr. Andrew Johnson, DVM