Proper Milking Procedures

• Stimulation and oxytocin release: Stripping the foremilk provides physical stimulation to the teats and udder, triggering the release of oxytocin, a hormone essential for milk letdown.

• Lag time and optimal attachment: There is a crucial prep-lag time between initial stimulation and maximum milk letdown (around 60 seconds), followed by a 90 to 120 second window for optimal milk flow when the milking unit should be attached.
• Impact of inadequate letdown: Insufficient teat stimulation or attaching the milking unit too early or late can result in interrupted milk flow (known as bimodal milk flow), which can damage the teat ends and udder tissue, increasing the risk of mastitis.

Ensure teats are clean and dry before milking.

• Pay special attention to teat ends that is where the milk comes from and it’s very important for stimulation and milk let down.
• Drying helps remove any remaining dirt, debris, and disinfectant residues, preventing contamination of the milk and potential liner slips.

Wear CLEAN gloves during the milking process to limit spread of contagious pathogens

• Helps to exclude bacteria and dirt from the cracks, crevices, and fingernail beds on your hands.
• Gloves can easily be disinfected between cows because of their smooth surface.
• Studies have shown 75% fewer bacteria on used gloves than on bare hands.
• Wearing gloves also reduces the spread of contagious and environmental bacteria by 50%.
• Emphasis on the CLEAN gloves

Attach teat cups squarely and level with the udder within 90 to 120 seconds of udder preparation.

Optimal Milk Flow: Proper alignment ensures that the teat cups are positioned correctly on each quarter, facilitating a smooth and even flow of milk. If the cluster is not aligned properly, it can restrict milk flow from certain quarters and lead to uneven milk out.

• Reduced Risk of Teat Damage and Mastitis: Mal positioned units can cause liner slips, liner squawks, and irritation to the teats. Liner slips have been linked to cross-quarter contamination, potentially introducing mastitis-causing organisms into the udder. Uneven pressure from misaligned units can also irritate the teat tissue, potentially increasing the risk of mastitis.
• Improved Milking Efficiency: When the unit is attached squarely and level, it can help reduce the milking time per cow, making the overall milking process more efficient.
• Enhanced Cow Comfort and Behavior: Proper attachment and alignment contribute to a more comfortable and less stressful milking experience for the cows, potentially resulting in calmer behavior during milking.
• Key aspects of proper cluster attachment and alignment
  
  • Minimizing Air Entry: Attach the milking unit carefully to minimize the amount of air entering the system.
  • Square Positioning: Adjust the cluster to hang squarely beneath the udder, with the long milk tube and pulse rubber in line with the cow's backbone, especially in herringbone parlors.
  • Avoiding Twisting: Arrange the milking unit and hoses to prevent any twisting that could pull the unit out of alignment.
  • Proper Unit Support: Ensure that supports for the long milk tubes are in place to maintain correct positioning and prevent dragging or twisting.

Adjust cluster during milking to prevent liner slips and squawks.

• Addressing Liner Slips Promptly: If liner slips or squawks occur, adjust the unit immediately to minimize the risk of contamination and teat damage.
• Liner slips allow air to enter the system, causing sudden vacuum fluctuations and impacting milk droplets against the teat end. If these droplets carry bacteria, they can penetrate the teat opening and cause new mastitis infections, especially near the end of milking when milk flow is low.
• Poorly aligned clusters can lead to uneven weight distribution across the udder, causing slower and incomplete milking of some quarters. This can lead to decreased milk yield and potential udder problems over time.
• Squawking and liner slips can be uncomfortable and potentially painful for cows, leading to restlessness and stress. Stress can inhibit milk let-down, further impacting milking efficiency.
• If you experience frequent liner slips or squawks (more than 5-10 slips per 100 milkings), it indicates a problem that requires further investigation.

Apply teat disinfectant immediately following teat cup removal and assure complete coverage of teats.

• Coverage: Teat dipping ensures that the entire teat end, the primary entry point for mastitis-causing bacteria, is covered with the disinfectant. This is particularly important for post-milking teat disinfection, which aims to eliminate bacteria picked up during milking and avoid bacteria from the environment entering the teat canal.
• A complete and correctly dipped teat will leave a full, singular blot on the paper towel. A broken or uneven blot indicates an improperly dipped teat, with inadequate coverage

Any teat disinfectant should be selected based on documented efficacy data which can be found on the NMC website (www.nmconline.org).

Here at BouMatic we value and promote testing teat disinfectants

To optimize mastitis control and reduce costs, teat dipping is preferred to spraying as the method of disinfectant application.

• Dip cups are generally considered more effective than spraying for achieving full coverage, although spraying can be effective with proper technique (e.g., spraying from below in a circular motion) or using a well-adjusted stepover system.
• Efficiency: While dipping may take slightly more time than spraying, it generally requires less product per cow, leading to cost savings. A common problem with stepover systems happens when trying to save dip and there is not enough teat coverage.
• Best Practices: For optimal results, it's recommended to use separate dip cups for pre- and post-milking disinfection, and to ensure the dip covers at least two-thirds of the teat.