Correct miking is important for udder healthness

Hygiene

Desinfection after milking

Milking

Milking routine:

Basics:

• Prefer regularly milking times.
• Milking times should be comfortable for the cows.
• When you are milking, keep focus on your work.
• Sick cows should be milked last.

Milking prearrangement:

• Try to prearrange the milking parlor wet, because it’s easier to clean it afterwards.
• Try to keep it as clean as it is possible and stress-free for the cows.
• Wear special and clean clothes for milking.
• Wash your hands before you start milking.

Pre-Milking:

• Control the consistence of the first drops of milk, because it contains the most germs.
• If you recognize a high cell amount you should make a California-Mastitis-Test (CMT).
• Clean the udder with a one way towel. (ONE Towel for ONE cow!!!)

Milking:

• Put the milking claws on dry teats.
• Try to stimulate the udder with hands or automatically with StimoPuls to optimize the milk flow.
• Try to fix the milking claws it as fast as possible to suck up less air from the surrounding.
• Control the right position of the milking claws.

After milking:

• You should dip the teats immediately with a dip solution.
• The cows should be standing for one hour after milking, because the teat-channels are still opened and germs can easily enter this part.
• Clean the milking parlor immediately after the milking process.

Service:

• Your milking system should be checked regularly.
• Change the teat rubber like it is written in the letter of introduction.
• Control the cleaning and disinfection of the milking system.
• Back to udder healthness

Milking process:

Vacuum:

The optimal pressure is about 0,45 bar. A higher pressure would damage the udder and with a lower pressure milking would last a longer time.

It is also very important that the vacuum is constant.

The whole milking system should be checked by an expert every year.

Blind milking:

This is the time when no milk comes out from the udder and the milking machine is still working. The farmer should care about it, because it would harm the udder unnecessary and a damaged udder is more susceptible to bacteria than a normal.

Hygiene:

The main risk of an infection is during the milking process. There are two ways how an infection can be possible. There can be a transfer between the cows and also between the quarters of the udder with the milking claws. Cows which have problems with mastitis should be milked at last. But not only the milking claws playing a major role, also can the personal be a critical factor. Dirty clothes and dirty hands are not really safe. The udder should be cleaned by a dry one-way towel. You should just use one towel for each cow. After milking you should use an Iod solution for the teats to protect them from bacteria.

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Page updated 21.11.2005