WHY MILKING PROCEDURES? |
Forestripping |
Stimulates oxytocin release in the brain, which in turn induces milk let down |
Only practical tool to identify clinical mastitis during milking |
Pre-dipping |
Pre milking disinfection reduces: • Amount of bacteria on the teat skin • Chance of germs from entering the udder • Bacterial presence in the bulk tank |
Key points during application:
· Allow 20 to 30 sec of action
• Min. coverage: 75% of the teat |
Wiping |
• Wipes off pre-dip removing dirtiness and germs • Dries and cleans the teat prior to unit attachment |
Key point during application:
· One individual clean and dry towel per cow
• Teat totally clean, especially teat end |
Unit attachment |
Clean, dry and milk-ballooned teats (appropriate stimulation time: 60-90 sec) There should be immediate milk flow |
Milking unit should be straight and balanced during unit attachment and during milking air entrance should be prevented |
Incorrect |
Correct |
Post-dipping |
Normally after milking, teat end will be relaxed for the next 20 minutes. During this period, post-dipping will be the only defense of the udder against mastitis causing germs |
Offering fresh feed after milking prevents cows from laying down, and allows the product to reach its protective action before cows are exposed to sources of contamination in the pen |
Developed by Humberto Rivera, MS., supported by the program “A Mexican-U.S. Dairyland Partnership Between Queretaro and Wisconsin: Dairy Training Research, and Extension for Economic Development and Trade”. |