Frequent review of parlor protocols can refine processes and improve productivity. Experts Andy Austin and Michelle Vannewkirk share advice on how and when to perform these reviews, as well as additional milk quality tips.
How would you define udder health?
AUSTIN: I would explain good udder health as the physiological condition of the udder when it’s not being impaired by inflammation, infection or damage, and when the udder can produce high-quality milk to its full potential. Truly healthy udders support milk quality with no hidden inflammation, which maintains a cow’s longevity and avoids internal damage from mastitis and external issues from teat damage.
There are four metrics of udder health we recommend reviewing on a regular basis:
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Bulk tank somatic cell count (SCC):
- High-performing herds target fewer than 120,000 cells per milliliter.
- Low SCC can be misleading if you’re culling heavily to get there.
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New infection rate (per month):
- 3% – Above this calls for immediate action
- 2% – Very good, well-managed herds
- 1% – Optimal herds with extremely strong protocols and accurate records
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Culling and reasons for culling:
- Record how many cows leave for mastitis/udder problems.
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Milk production by health status and parity:
- Cows that have had mastitis often average about 2,000 pounds less milk per lactation.
- Infected or chronic cows can produce 5-10 pounds less milk per day. This is especially true in our older, high-producing cows.
Looking at SCC, new infections, culling reasons and production together gives a holistic picture of herd udder health.
What's the difference between a soft and hard parlor audit?
VANNEWKIRK: Soft audits catch protocol drift and training issues while hard audits catch mechanical and vacuum problems. You really need both if you want a complete picture.
A soft parlor audit is what I’d call a visual, cow-and-people audit. I’m in the pit watching how cows move, how teats are prepped, how long it takes before units are attached, how units hang and detach, and what the overall parlor environment is like. I’m asking: "Does what I see match what’s written in the protocol?"
A soft audit is a regular visual check of:
- Stimulation-to-unit-on time – Are units going on during peak oxytocin or too soon/too late, causing bimodal letdown?
- Teat cleanliness and prep – Are teats truly clean and dry before unit attachment? How are the towels used? One per cow? Are employee hands clean and gloved?
- Towel dirtiness – Take ten random towels and review how dirty they are. Are your pens and/or holding areas part of the problem?
- Teat-end condition and unit alignment – Is there any hyperkeratosis or damage? Are units hanging square and milking all four quarters evenly?
- Cow handling and stress – Are cows calm or nervous? Are they yelled at or pushed too hard?
- Post-dip coverage and unit hygiene – Are all teats fully covered? Are units cleaned in a way that doesn’t splash dirty water back on udders?
I’d like to see soft audits performed monthly, and often more frequently, across different shifts. They don’t all have to be big formal events; sometimes it’s just the manager stepping in for a few turns and watching carefully.
AUSTIN: A hard parlor audit, or what is technically called a milking system evaluation, is used to measure the function of parlor equipment. It is like the eight-point mechanic inspection we get when we take our vehicles in for service. It involves using testing equipment and testing vacuum levels, pulsation, fall-off response and teat-end vacuum using the National Mastitis Council (NMC) protocols:
- Vacuum pump capacity – Is there enough vacuum per unit for your parlor size and production level?
- System and teat-end vacuum – This should be measured at several points in the parlor. Teat-end vacuum should be tested on some high-producing cows for the duration of milk-out to ensure that sufficient vacuum is maintained throughout.
- Pulsation – Graph the rate and ratio on all units and analyze each.
- Unit fall-off response and vacuum recovery – How does the system react when a unit or units fall off? Does vacuum recover quickly? Vacuum stability is the goal.
- Inspecting the outside and inside of equipment – This is important for finding blockages, leaks and worn parts in the system.
On larger farms, I like to see a full milking system evaluation every six months because of the volume of cows using the parlor, and on any farm, at least once a year. If mastitis or SCC are climbing and you don’t know why, you should consider moving that timeline up and doing it immediately. It’s also best done by someone trained in NMC protocols, such as your equipment dealer, a quality milk lab, a veterinarian or consultant with the right training, or a trained employee on very large farms.
Why should dairies perform parlor audits regularly? What's the long-term payoff?
AUSTIN: I’ve noticed that it can be easy to fall into complacency in the parlor area. Many herds have improved milk quality over the last 20 years, and that’s great, but it’s easy to stop doing the basics. When it comes down to it, mastitis is expensive. A typical case will cost around $180, and often more once you factor in lost milk and culling. Severe cases cost two-and-a-half times as much. When you add it up, the return on investing in udder health through better routines, proper system evaluations and culturing mastitis cases has historically been about 3-to-1 or better.
VANNEWKIRK: The 3-to-1 return on investing in udder health is before factoring in reduced heifer costs. Long story short, promoting udder health means less involuntary culling for mastitis. Keeping cows in the herd longer, especially in the current beef market, means:
- Raising fewer replacement heifers, tying up less feed, labor and capital
- Milking more mature, high-producing cows
- Capitalizing on using more beef semen and selling high-value beef cross calves
The cost of poor udder health doesn’t end at lost milk production and treatment costs. It is foundational to the profitability of the herd because it connects to the entire heifer pipeline. When we are forced to cull animals due to udder health challenges, we’re also forced to invest in raising more animals.
What are the red flags that say, "Audit your parlor"?
AUSTIN: I suggest conducting an audit when you see any of these warning signs:
- New infection rate creeping above 3% (per month) or a sudden increase above your normal rate
- SCC trending up or bouncing around without explanation
- More cows leaving the herd for mastitis or “low production,” especially older cows
- Dirtier-than-usual milk filters or consistently filthy prep towels (this points to a full environmental assessment)
- Nervous cows, more unit kickoffs, liner squawks, or milkers constantly “fighting” the system
Employees are our first line of defense. Training them to report problems promptly gives us a better chance to fix the issue before it becomes systemic. When one or more of these red flags show up, lean into your consultants to evaluate whether a focused soft audit, hard audit or both are needed to find the root cause before mastitis and lost milk really start to add up.
Final thoughts
VANNEWKIRK: When you change protocols, take the time to explain to your crew how timing, wiping and calm handling all affect the cow’s udder and her future production. Most people are trying to be efficient, not careless. When they understand the “why,” they’ll own it.
AUSTIN: My advice is to invest in your cows and your people. Don’t assume equipment is fine just because your SCC is decent today. In the same way, don’t ignore culturing and records. Keep employees engaged by sharing results, praising them when things improve and trying bonuses for udder health or milk quality goals. The return is protecting the cows that pay the bills.
Dr. Andy Austin is a veterinarian and milk quality specialist working with eastern U.S. herds, trained in National Mastitis Council milking system evaluation protocols.
Michelle Vannewkirk is a senior dairy technical specialist focused on milk quality, udder health and heifer strategy in the western U.S.
