The primary goal of the milking process is to produce large quantities of quality milk, minimizing mastitis infections and minimized stress on both cows and workers.
However, the process to obtain quality milk starts with the farmer through consistent and daily timely milking. Always understand the milking parlour housing and write milking procedures to easily be followed by workers.
Best practices
Always minimize animal stress and timely milk to facilitate the release of oxytocin hormone that helps in milk letdown.
Additionally, wash hands with soap and wear gloves before milking to limit spread of mastitis during milking and to protect the milkers skin.
Furthermore, clean cows before milking but avoid wetting the entire udder as this increases spread of mastitis and bacterial levels in milk.
Always fore strip teats for 10-20 seconds per cow, this helps the milker to examine the milk for mastitis and also to stimulate the teats and the udder to encourage milk letdown. However, do not strip in hands or towel as this may encourage mastitis spread.
Also pre dip teats in sanitizing solution for 30 seconds to control mastitis and throughly dry teats, but never use the same drying towel on two cows.
Ensure washing teat drying towel with detergent after use to minimize spread of mastitis.
Always attach milking units between 1 to 1.5 minutes after stimulation to coordinate attachment with milk letdown and remember to check milking units to ensure total milk removal from the udder.
Ensure proper, timely removal of milking units to avoid damaging the teats, always post dip to kill organisms on teats and keep post teat cups clean to reduce chances of mastitis infection.
Lastly, test the effectiveness of post dipping by wrapping a paper towel around the teats.
