Most dairies are looking for ways to lower their somatic cell count (SCC), have fewer clinical mastitis cases and milk cows faster. There is one important way to help with all three of these areas: drying teats properly. Many dairies are in such a hurry to get the milking routine done that they overlook the importance of the drying step.

Milking parlors perform at the intersection of three forces: equipment performance, chemical effectiveness and human compliance. Each one can elevate milk quality or quietly sabotage it.

To effectively manage milk quality and boost production, it is essential to ensure that cows are comfortable in their environment. Therefore, paying attention to proper udder care is crucial; neglecting it could jeopardize your operation’s bottom line.

Human behavior can be challenging to change once habits are established. This might be one of the reasons some employers prefer to hire new, inexperienced employees, as compared to those who may bring previously learned bad habits to the job.

During a producer roundtable at the National Mastitis Council annual meeting, Jan. 27-30, in Charlotte, North Carolina, three dairymen defined the ways they achieve low somatic cell counts (SCC) with farm protocols, training and implementing new technologies. 

Bimodality can strongly impact both milk production and cow health. Let’s examine its impact on dairy farm performance and outline strategies to effectively reduce its occurrence.