Milking system evaluation

Where to start?

Abstract

The mastitis triangle involves the cow and her environment, the milk harvest technicians and how they are trained and the equipment they are given, and the milking equipment and its impact on mastitis risk. Other points to consider are treatment protocols/residue avoidance and labor. Adding these 2 points creates a mastitis tent. Veterinarians are independent, reasonably unbiased milk quality advisors to dairy producers. Create a road map to better understand milking systems and evaluation of milking systems. The greatest risk for new cases of mastitis resides in the number of bacteria on the animal’s teat end and teat skin. The 2 most important locations at which to measure vacuum are in the milking claw and the milking receiver. Keeping the milking equipment clean on the inside and outside is important to reduce the risk of new cases of mastitis.