Proper cleaning of milking equipment contributes to ensuring that high-quality milk is produced on the dairy farm. Goals of cleaning milking equipment are to prevent microbial growth and remove residual milk solids. Residual milk solids are called “soils” and contain both organic and inorganic materials. Soils that are retained on the inner surface of the milking system provide nutrients and areas for bacteria to grow, and these soils also reduce the effectiveness of the cleaning and sanitizing compounds.

It’s that time of year when people spend time with their families and wait to see what Santa brings them this year. What’s on your Christmas wish list? A new gadget? The biggest TV on the market? Maybe some new tools? Progressive Dairyman visited with two mechanics to see what was on their wish lists and what they believed should be on other mechanics’ wish lists this Christmas.

Representatives from Advanced Comfort Technology, Inc. (ACT, Inc.), were on site at the University of Kentucky, assisting with the installation of 54 of the company’s DCC Waterbeds (Dual Chamber Cow Waterbeds) in the College of Agriculture’s Coldstream Dairy Research Farm. “We are excited to have DCC Waterbeds at the University of Kentucky,” said Dean Throndsen, president and CEO of ACT, Inc. “For almost 13 years we’ve seen and heard from our customers that waterbeds provide superior cow comfort with the added benefits of less maintenance, lower labor and bedding costs, and a long lifespan. Now, through our partnership with UK, we can gather data to help support the testimonials we’ve collected from waterbed users around the world.” The installation at the University of Kentucky kicks off a two-year study overseen by Dr. Jeffrey Bewley, dairy systems management extension specialist in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences, and led by Barbara Wadsworth, a graduate student in the Animal and Food Sciences program and the recipient of the ACT, Inc., Dairy Systems Management Fellowship.

Taurus Service has recently completed a remodeling and building project at its Mehoopany, Pennsylvania, facilities. The company we recently moved a group of bulls into the 40th Anniversary Barn. Earlier this year, Taurus welcomed EU veterinary officials from Brussels along with U.S. federal veterinarians in their effort to standardize bull stud housing and procedures for EU-qualified A.I. centers in the U.S. A change mandated was that if Taurus was to continue using outside runs for bull housing or exercise, the area had to be concreted so it could be effectively disinfected. Therefore Taurus elected to reduce the 30- by 120-foot outside runs to approximately 30- by 30-foot outside runs and concrete this area. The end result is that Taurus will continue to have outside runs adjoining some bull pens so pens can be alternated to allow bulls to have outside access to sun and exercise.

Case IH continued its long-standing support of the National FFA Foundation by donating a new, one-of-a-kind Case skid steer nicknamed, “Red Power,” to be auctioned off later next year to benefit the National FFA Foundation. “‘Red Power’ is a one-of-a-kind, tricked out skid steer, specially designed with Case IH enthusiasts and collectors in mind,” explains Kyle Russell, senior director of marketing, Case IH North America. “We’re excited to unveil this unique design at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, and to have the opportunity to leverage it for the benefit of FFA’s important mission of preparing the next crop of agriculture leaders.”

Finding labour in Saskatchewan was becoming harder and harder for dairyman Wes Cairns. He decided to take matters into his own hands and control the labour needed for milking his 120 cows. Two years ago, Cairns purchased two robotic milkers and built a new barn to accommodate them.

A power winch is one of those farm tools that’s handy to have around, especially if you like off-road driving, want to drag pallets or need to pull out a piece of equipment stuck in the mud. Here are a few ins and outs of buying a winch for your four-wheel-drive truck. Three types You may choose a low-voltage winch which runs off 12-volt or 24-volt DC electrical systems; a high-voltage winch which runs off 110-volt AC current; or the hydraulic-only winch, the most heavy-duty for farm jobs.