SOME OBSERVATIONS OF MILKING EQUIPMENT STATUS AND MILKING PROCEDURE ON DAIRY FARMS EXPERIENCING HIGH SOMATIC CELL COUNT LEVELS1

Authors:
  • WLW. C. Lawton
    W. C. Lawton
  • W5W. C. LawtonMid America Dairymen, Inc., Northern Division, St. Paul, Minnesota 55114V. S. Packard, Jr.Department of Food Science and Industries, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
    W. C. LawtonMid America Dairymen, Inc., Northern Division, St. Paul, Minnesota 55114V. S. Packard, Jr.Department of Food Science and Industries, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
  • JPJr. V. S. Packard
    Jr. V. S. Packard
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Abstract
During an evaluation of the Abnormal Milk Control Program (1), 162 milking-time farm calls were made specifically to evaluate milking equipment installation and operation and milking practices on farms experiencing high somatic cell counts. A summary of these findings is presented herein. Using generally recognized guidelines as acceptance criteria for both equipment factors and milking practices, the percentage of satisfactory compliance was: for operating vacuum, 34.0%; stall size (stanchion barns), 37.3%; use of strip cup, 11.1%; use of individual towels for udder wash, 12.3%; temperature of udder wash at completion of milking, 14.8%; and use of teat dip, 19.1%. Relatively high compliance was noted for: vacuum controller location, 64.8%; pulsator speed, 72.2%; presence of sanitizer in udder wash, 87.0%; and equipment sanitization before milking, 60.5%. About 47% of the dairymen held milking-time-per-cow to 5 1/2 min or less.