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Milking System Evaluation:
The
complete milking system evaluation focuses on five areas:
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1.
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The examination of
historical milking system, mastitis and somatic cell count information. |
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A
thorough review of treatment records, DHIA data, past equipment
evaluations and milk culture results is crucial to focus on potential
problem areas. Many steps can be eliminated if good records are kept and
properly examined. |
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2.
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The review of cow
environment, cow comfort and general environment management.
The cow’s udder spends about 99% of its
time in areas outside the parlour. A careful examination of the cow’s
environment can give clues to potential sources of udder infection. |
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3.
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Static and dynamic
milking system evaluation.
Independent evaluation of milking
equipment gives the dairy producer confidence in the parlour plumbing and
installation. Small changes in regulator and pulsation function can have
a huge impact on teat end health. Current recommendations center on the
quick, gentle complete milking of cows. This means minimizing the amount
of time the unit is on the cow and reducing vacuum fluctuations that can
cause mastitis. |
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4. |
Milker technique and
milking time evaluation.
It has been estimated that 75% of
mastitis is directly related to the people associated with the milking
event. It is crucial to review the basic milking technique and the time
that is spent in each critical milking procedure. Most milkers are
interested to see the results of the evaluation and participate in the
crucial changes that may be necessary to improve milk quality, parlour
performance and udder health. |
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5. |
A complete written
report.
This report provides a listing of all
findings and recommendations. Emphasis is placed on problem areas that
can be corrected quickly with minimal cost. The report is the property of
the owner but can be made available (with permission) to other
stakeholders including the milking equipment dealer. A team approach is
recommended to optimize the parlour and milking procedure.
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