How does managing udder health differ in automated milking systems? 

Just 424 out of nearly 3.7 million milk samples tested positive for animal drug residues in the FDA’s annual analysis. Those samples testing positive were rejected for human consumption. That works out to be only one out of every 8,702 samples.

Clearly we have not “solved” the problem of mastitis and the risk it poses to milk quality. While it is tempting to look to the latest sensors, supplements, on-farm tests or other technologies to hit the market to resolve this problem, let’s take a step back and review what we have learned and know to be true about mastitis control.

How often should you do an audit in your milking parlor and adjust your protocols? Let's analyze a few different dairies around the country and consider the success they saw when conducting an audit.

Due to record highs for butterfat pricing, the buzz in the industry has been about how to maximize butterfat production in the bulk tank. But at the end of the day, it’s the individual cows that are being milked into the bulk tank and eating the rations.

The milking parlor is where you harvest your crop. All your effort in breeding, feeding and herd management shows up in the parlor. I often encourage employees by reminding them that they work in the "most important place on the dairy."