NMC Revised Mastitis Control Program, Now 7 Points

Effective August 18, 2025, the NMC streamlined their recommended program. The good news: the first three points remained the same!

1
Establish herd-specific udder health goals & monitor with data
2
Manage the cow's environment
3
Establish and monitor proper milking procedures
4
Proper maintenance and use of milking equipment
5
Appropriate management of clinical mastitis during lactation
6
Effective dry cow management
7
Maintain herd biosecurity
Point 4: Proper Maintenance & Use of Milking Equipment
Install and update equipment according to appropriate standards

Your equipment provider will follow industry standards, but it's good to know what those are. Installations must comply with the DATCP Milking Equipment Installer Manual and be designed for effective cleaning and sanitization in line with the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO).

For automated milking installations, a system must be in place to detect, divert, and properly handle abnormal milk in accordance with a written procedure acceptable to your state authority.

Service, maintain and regularly evaluate equipment function

Think of your milking system like a car except it runs 2–3 times a day, up to 20 hours a day. Without regular evaluation and maintenance, subtle problems can go unnoticed: cows not milked out completely, declining milk production, and compromised teat-end and udder health.

A milking machine technician should perform a complete system evaluation every 500–1,000 hours of operation. A full vacuum and airflow evaluation includes:

  • Rate and ratio of all pulsators (Level II)
  • Operating vacuum in the receiver and vacuum difference across the system
  • The "falloff" test verifying enough reserve capacity for a unit falloff
  • Effective Reserve and Manual Reserve
  • Regulator "undershoot" or "overshoot" when a unit is opened/closed
  • Air used by components: pulsation system, clusters, regulator, and ancillary equipment
  • System leakage
  • Vacuum pump capacity
Replace liners, hoses, and rubber/plastic parts on schedule

Your equipment provider should supply a recommended maintenance guide. BouMatic provides a Scheduled Maintenance Guide for regular milking systems, as well as specific guides for rotaries and robots.

Track milking counts so replacements happen on time. But don't wait for a scheduled date if something is visibly wrong replace broken parts immediately. Keep spare parts on hand: liners, claws, milk hoses, and vacuum hoses are the most commonly needed.

Daily visual inspection should include:

  • Cleaning air vents on liners and/or claws
  • Inspecting milking and pulsation tubes for tears
  • Inspecting liners for cracks, shape changes, or twisting
  • Inspecting claws and shells for damage

Pulsation monitoring systems help identify performance issues at the unit level between scheduled technician visits.

Pro Tip: Some companies offer systems that monitor pulsation performance continuously between technician evaluations, like having a pit crew keeping your Formula 1 milking machine in peak condition between race days.
Thoroughly wash and sanitize equipment after each milking

Work with a dairy equipment service provider on a wash analysis to verify correct water temperature, chemical and detergent levels, and wash cycle performance. Frequency varies by operation some dairies do this monthly, others quarterly or every six months, depending on their quality goals and bulk tank bacterial counts.

Producers can also do quick self-checks using pH strips:

11–12

Detergent cycle target pH

2–4

Acid cycle target pH

9–10

Chlorine rinse target pH

Check gaskets and jetters regularly. If something doesn't look or sound right, call your dealer. A strong relationship with your local dealer is the foundation of a high-functioning parlor.

Maintain all wash hoses to prevent bacterial colonization

Run a low-level disinfectant (chlorine or iodine) through parlor wash hoses routinely, especially hoses used to rinse milking units that have become soiled with manure or mastitic milk. Replace hoses as needed.

In AMS herds: ensure proper maintenance of robots per manufacturer recommendations

Robots are a tremendous help on the modern dairy, but they demand consistent attention. Daily and weekly maintenance by farm personnel is essential. Key robot maintenance practices:

  • Clean floors, walls, and the attach tool three times per day
  • Rinse the milking and pretreatment unit three times per day
  • Follow BouMatic's Scheduled Maintenance Guide (Gemini) for your robot model

Keeping the robot clean directly improves attachment quality and milk quality. On a working dairy, manure will happen, the key is having a routine that handles it before it causes problems.