Milk Quality

Fighting Mastitis with the Help of Robots and Smart Technology

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:20:26 GMT

Mastitis remains one of the most costly and persistent health challenges facing dairy farms today, whether cows are milked in a parlor or by robots. In 2024, mastitis was estimated to cost the U.S. dairy industry more than $13 billion annually through lost milk, treatment costs and discarded milk.

As robotic milking systems become more common, new sensors and monitoring tools are helping detect milk quality problems earlier than ever. Even with these technological advances, the core principles of mastitis control remain the same. According to Douglas Reinemann and Carolina Pinzón-Sánchez of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, good hygiene, careful monitoring and timely intervention still form the foundation of effective mastitis management.

Clean Cows Still Matter Most

No matter where cows are milked, prevention still begins with cleanliness. In automated milking systems, that means ensuring the robot can properly clean and attach to the udder each time a cow enters the box.

“The cleanliness of the udder when the cow enters the robot has a big influence on how well that preparation process works,” Reinemann says.

Milking preparation is a critical step. Proper stimulation helps trigger milk letdown and allows teat cups to attach quickly and correctly. While premilking sanitation steps vary by robot brand, the goal is the same across systems: The robot must attach the milking unit to clean, dry and well-stimulated teats.

Postmilking teat disinfection is equally important. After milking, the teat canal remains temporarily open, leaving the udder more vulnerable to infection. Applying teat disinfectant helps remove bacteria from the teat skin and reduces the risk of new intramammary infections.

Routine equipment maintenance also plays a major role in mastitis prevention. Checking the accuracy of cleaning and sanitation cycles helps ensure the robot is properly preparing teats before milking.

“Equipment maintenance is nonnegotiable,” Pinzón-Sánchez says. “Milking systems must be serviced and tested regularly per manufacturer guidelines. Monitoring the accuracy of pre- and postmilking sanitation cycles ensures effective cleaning and prevents bacterial spread.”

How Robots Detect Mastitis Earlier

While mastitis prevention principles remain largely the same, detection looks different in robotic systems.

In conventional parlors, trained employees serve as the first line of defense. Those hands-on observations allow workers to quickly spot abnormal milk or signs of udder inflammation. But in automated milking systems, technology takes on that monitoring role.

Robots rely on sensors and algorithms to track milk quality and cow behavior. When the system detects patterns that deviate from normal, it generates an alert that a cow may be experiencing mastitis.

Automated milking system sensors commonly monitor:

Electrical conductivity of milk.
Milk color and composition changes.
Somatic cell count (SCC).
Quarter-level milk yield.
Cow visit frequency to the robot.

“These systems are very good at detecting abnormalities,” Reinemann says. “Sensor data can often identify subtle changes before clinical signs become obvious.”

Additional monitoring tools also help catch potential problems earlier. Activity monitors worn on collars, legs or ear tags track how cows move throughout the day. When a cow becomes less active or her behavior starts to change, it can be an early sign that something isn’t right. Often, these shifts show up before obvious symptoms appear, giving producers more time to take a closer look and respond if needed.

How to Interpret Alerts

Even with all the high-tech monitoring tools in an automated milking system, interpreting data the robots provide isn’t always straightforward. To make sense of what the sensors are telling you, Reinemann and Pinzón-Sánchez explain that it helps to understand two key concepts: sensitivity and specificity.

According to the pair, sensitivity refers to the system’s ability to correctly identify cows that truly have mastitis. A highly sensitive system detects most sick animals but may flag more healthy cows as potential cases.

Specificity, on the other hand, reflects how well the system identifies healthy cows. High specificity reduces false alarms but may miss some infected animals.

“No system is perfect,” Pinzón-Sánchez explains. “Increasing sensitivity can increase false positives, while increasing specificity can lead to missed cases.”

Fortunately, many automated systems allow producers to adjust these settings depending on herd conditions. When mastitis risk is elevated, increasing sensitivity may help catch more true cases. During periods of stable milk quality, higher specificity can reduce unnecessary alerts.

What to Do When the Robot Flags a Cow

Despite how capable automated systems have become, Reinemann and Pinzón-Sánchez emphasize that technology should support, not replace, human decision‑making. When the robot flags a cow, producers should:

Review the system alert and cow history.
Visually evaluate milk for abnormalities.
Palpate the udder for swelling or heat.
Take the cow’s temperature if illness is suspected.
Divert abnormal milk from the bulk tank.
Collect aseptic milk samples for culture or PCR testing.
Use cow-side tests such as the California Mastitis Test (CMT).
Consult a veterinarian before initiating treatment.

Blending Management with Technology

Despite the technology, successful mastitis control still comes down to good management. Robots can flag changes and catch potential problems earlier, but producers must still evaluate cows and make treatment decisions.

“These systems are excellent at detecting abnormalities, but they can’t diagnose diseases or recommend treatments,” Reinemann says.

He and Pinzón-Sánchez stress that successful mastitis management still relies on the basics: watching cows closely, keeping consistent routines and working with a veterinarian on prevention and treatment plans. When technology and good herd management work together, mastitis problems can often be addressed before they become serious.

For more on mastitis, check out:

Single Mom's Dairy Success: Juggling 4 Kids and 1,500 Cows

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:30:00 GMT

Growing up, nobody ever told Mitzie Blanchard she couldn’t do something simply because she was a girl. And although Mitzie’s father discouraged her from moving back to the family farm thirty years ago, that had nothing to do with the fact she is a woman. His deterrence was fueled by the fact that the dairy industry is a tough business to be in, and his farm’s facilities were aging fast. Speared by her spitfire and hardworking personality, Mitzie was determined she would prove her father wrong and own and operate her own dairy.

Early Beginnings

Starting with 45 cows on her Charlotte, Iowa farm, Mitzie grew her herd one step at a time. Today, along with her four sons, Mitzie milk 1,300 Holstein-Jersey crossbreds and farms an equal number of acres, raising mostly corn, alfalfa and triticale, of which all goes back to feed the herd.

Mitzie is no stranger to hard work. She was raised on her family’s farm, and in 1986 her father, Ron Ketelson, decided to sell his herd in the whole herd government buyout program. With his entire herd going to slaughter, Ron figured that would be the end of any cows being milked on his eastern Iowa dairy farm.

Mitzie had other plans. Five years to the day after her father’s cows left, she moved back to the family farm with a small herd of cows and her sons.

Today, three of her four sons, along with a nephew who Mitzie essentially raised as a son, work full-time on the family farm, Blanchard Family Dairy, LLC.

Like most farm kids, Mitzie’s boys were expected to help with the work. And that they did. Mitzie credits much of her success to her boys constantly being by her side. The ‘boys’ are now grown men – BJ, Seth, Brian and Brent – who saved their own money earned from working at the dairy to buy their own cows.

Her oldest son, BJ, says he knew from an early age he would follow in his mother’s footsteps. Like his mother, BJ is a natural-born leader and has taken on the roles of monitoring feed, managing manure and overseeing the crops.

“I just like working outside,” he shares.

Her other sons who work on the farm help in different capacities. Seth works as a general laborer, Brian oversees the shop and maintains equipment, and Brent is being groomed to take over his mother’s role as a herdsman.

Expansion Over the Years

Nearly 20 years ago the Blanchard’s put up a 500-cow barn, their first major expansion. At the time, they formed an LLC when Mitzie’s sons were between the ages of 13 and 21 years old. Under the advice of the farm’s accountant, the sons became official co-owners of the farm.

In 2012 and 2014, additional 500-cow barns were added, along with expanding the milking parlor in 2014. In 2017, growth came to a halt, as their milk cooperative instituted a production cap.

Growth has always been Mitzie’s mantra, but she also has put a keen focus on high components and solid reproduction to help dial in on efficiencies and profitability.

Reminiscing, Mitzie knows her father is proud that the family dairy legacy continues, and she recalls that he often would stop by the dairy to take it all in. Her father was proud, not only of his daughter for being determined to make it work, but of her boys for following in their mother’s shadow.

Joy and pride are also found in Mitzie’s heartbeat, as she has been able to watch her boys grow with responsibility. Each has taken on pivotal roles that have shaped the dairy for success. She recalls back to 2009, and while most producers remember it as one of their worst years, she remembers it differently. She says it was one of her best, as her boys had been educated on some tough lessons.

“They learned early on how to refinance loans and cut costs,” she says. “It was wonderful to watch my boys come into their own as young leaders.”

Mitzie says she has no regrets, even though the journey over the last three decades hasn’t been an easy one. Together, as a family, they have figured it out, using each expansion as a learning curve and a steppingstone for success.

This past summer Mitzie turned 60, and the boys and their families celebrated their heroic mother by taking her off the farm to go on a trip to Colorado. The once nonstop worker admits she is starting to slow down and confesses that she doesn’t worry about the future of the farm she fought hard for.

“I’m reassured by my son’s ability to run every angle of the dairy,” she says. “Undoubtedly it will take hard work. If I have taught them anything, it is how to work hard.”

Turn Milk Data Into An Early Diagnosis

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:23:58 GMT

Modern dairy operations generate an extraordinary amount of information from every milking, yet some of the most valuable health indicators are hiding in plain sight inside the milk meter. For veterinarians, these data streams offer one of the earliest, most reliable windows into emerging disease, often days before clinical signs appear.

“Most people forget about milk production,” says Dr. Aurora Villarroel of Athyr Vet, a dairy herd health consulting company. “The milking machine is actually your best biosensor. It’s your most important one and most people ignore it.”

While different monitoring systems may present data in different ways, interpreting milk yield, component and conductivity data can allow for clinicians to detect subclinical disorders with greater precision than traditional observation alone. As technology becomes more integrated into routine dairy management, the veterinarian’s role increasingly centers on interpreting these numbers, guiding producers toward timely responses and translating these metrics into practical on-farm outcomes.

Milk Yield Deviations

Milk yield is often the first and most sensitive indicator that something is wrong. A cow that deviates from her expected production curve, given lactation history, or a fresh cow whose production isn’t increasing as it should needs to be looked at.

Villarroel advises putting together the milk yield data from a given cow’s lactation history to assist in spotting any irregularities.

“Some of the software will allow you to superimpose all of the lactations of the same cow,” Villarroel says. “What you’re going to see is that the lactations have the same shape. It’s genetic, but it’s a different shape in each cow.”

By comparing the life lactation history of an animal, you can determine whether any observed shifts in milk yield are expected or out of the norm. Villarroel emphasizes the importance of zooming out to get the big picture. When you’re looking closely at two to three days of milking data, small changes in yield may seem insignificant; however, when you put these two to three days into context with a greater portion of the lactation, it may tell a different story.

Component Changes: Fat & Protein

Milk components add critical context to yield changes and help pinpoint specific metabolic disorders. Fat percentage often rises when a cow is metabolizing excessive body fat, making it one of the most consistent indicators of negative energy balance or subclinical ketosis. Conversely, milk protein tends to drop with decreased feed intake, rumen dysfunction or systemic illness. The fat-to-protein ratio (FPR) is particularly useful in transition cow monitoring: an elevated FPR may indicate an energy deficit.

If you’re evaluating whether a new nutrition program is working for your herd, consider using butter fat content and animal activity as indicators.

“The milk yield takes a while still to change, but butter fat and resting time are the first two things that change almost immediately,” Vilarroel says.

Milk Conductivity

Changes in milk conductivity are also useful as an indicator of udder health and useful for the diagnosis of mastitis. Conductivity measures the salt content of the milk, which is dependent on the permeability of blood vessels, or damage to the blood-milk barrier. Because this shift can occur before visible changes in milk or the udder, conductivity is one of the earliest warning signs of mastitis at the quarter level.

“When the conductivity goes up, there’s inflammation in the udder. Something is going on in the udder so that there’s more salt in the milk,” Villarroel explains. “Conductivity changes are a precursor to somatic cell count changes.”

Somatic cell count patterns offer a complementary perspective, highlighting cows that are experiencing subclinical infections. Reviewing somatic cell count trends on a per-cow and per-lactation basis can help identify management decisions that may be affecting udder health.

Put Milk Measurements Together

While each milk metric offers useful information on its own, their real power emerges when they are interpreted together. No single measurement is diagnostic, but patterns across multiple indicators can be used to identify cattle who need to be checked on.

“How do you check every single thing in a cow every single day?” Villarroel says. “Guess what? You can. You just need to know how to interpret it.”

A cow showing modest yield drop may simply be responding to heat stress or social disruption; however, a yield drop paired with an elevated FPR suggests negative energy balance or early ketosis. Similarly, a spike conductivity alone may reflect milking irregularities, but when it appears alongside a somatic cell increase, the probability of mastitis increases.

Transforming milk data into meaningful herd health outcomes requires consistent workflows that integrate monitoring, diagnosis and communication. This may start with a focus on high-risk groups (transition cows, fresh cows, high-somatic cell count repeat offenders) and building structured review protocols around them. At the herd level, data driven insights can shape broader management decisions. Rising conductivity across a pen may indicate bedding or hygiene issues, while recurrent FPR spikes may indicate ration inconsistencies. By combining milk measurements into a cohesive health signal, you can move from reactive case management to proactive herd surveillance — catching problems early when they are the most treatable.

Genetic Advancements in Dairy Helping Meet the Protein Craze Demand

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:36:26 GMT

The dairy industry is experiencing an exhilarating transformation, driven by an unprecedented demand for protein across the globe. Gregg Doud, president of the National Milk Producers Federation, captures this phenomenon aptly, describing it as a pivotal moment for dairy.

“Everywhere I go, I tell people we’re having a moment here on the dairy-side of the equation,” he says, emphasizing how dairy’s protein-rich offerings, from cheese to whey, are captivating consumers both domestically and internationally.

U.S. dairy producers are determined to capitalize on this opportunity. A standout example of their efforts is the extraordinary advancement in genetic testing, which have contributed to remarkable increases in production. A testament to this evolution is found at McCarty Family Dairy in Rexford, Kan. Their breakthrough in genetic enhancements has propelled an impressive leap in milk production, soaring from 70 lb. to over 100 lb. per cow daily.

“You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” says Ken McCarty, one of the owners of McCarty Family Farms. “In 2011, we were milking about 7,000 cows, and today we’re milking nearly 20,000 cows, and we’ve increased productivity by almost 50%.”

Enhancing Herd Health and Milk Quality

The impact of genetic advancements extends beyond productivity to significantly enhance herd health and milk quality. By leveraging genomic insights, the McCartys have reduced disease rates and improved animal welfare, leading to superior milk quality. The reduction in somatic cell count averages that now hovers around 120,000 to 180,000 is a testament to healthier herds and stringent disease management practices, exceeding customer expectations.

Feed efficiency is crucial, with feed constituting 65% of the overall budget. The McCartys focus intently on indexes such as TPI and DWP, which are critical in informing their mating and breeding strategies.

“We really focus on specific indexes, like TPI and DWP$ (Dairy Wellness Profit Index) with Clarifide Plus, and those are really the kind of driving indexes behind our mating and breeding strategies,” he says.

Dan Weigel, a geneticist at Zoetis, has worked closely with McCarty Family Farms over the years, helping guide their genetic testing program and strategy. Weigel says McCarty’s dedication to improving life for both cows and employees reflects their continuous pursuit of optimization.

Strategic Breeding for a Better Future

Strategic breeding at McCarty Family Dairy not only caters to the global demand for protein-rich diets but also aims at creating an environmentally sustainable future. While butterfat can be nutritionally altered more easily than protein, the dairy focuses on enhancing protein content through genetic selection. This approach is designed to reduce carbon footprints by optimizing feed usage and production.

“Genetically, I think we all can recognize that it’s easier to drive butterfat through diet than it is to drive protein through diet. So, protein is really a major focus in our genetic planning, because it is so much harder to drive from a nutritional perspective,” McCarty says. “And what we’ve poured into our cows, from a genetic perspective, has shown up in the bulk tank.”

The McCartys are consistently hitting nearly 7.5 lb. of components per cow, with their dairies in Kansas and Nebraska averaging 3.35% to 3.4% for protein.

“And that is on high-producing Holstein animals,” McCarty adds. “We have the luxury of having a milk processing plant between us and our customer, so not only do we see the on-farm productivity, but we see the enhancements in terms of efficiency in our processing plant. Higher component levels milk that just drives throughput and efficiency in our processing plant as well.”

Partnership and Collaboration

The McCartys success story is also a narrative of collaboration. Strong outside partnerships, such as Zoetis team support for on-farm data analysis and genetic testing strategy, help drive holistic improvement.

“When our customer wants something, they want it now, and we position our herds to deliver,” McCarty says.

Their ability to transition farms efficiently reflects a deep pool of data and tailored herd profiles.

“We have to position our herds to deliver what our customer wants,” he adds, noting that 88% of their births are A2A2. “We have the ability today to transition farms quickly. We have that data, and we have the herd profile to be able to do that.”

High-productivity breeding strategies directly benefit animal welfare, reducing carbon emissions and aligning with stringent brand ethics.

“Breeding for high health animals has a direct positive benefit, not only on our bottom line and the productivity of our cows, but in terms of brand risk management,” McCarty says. “The single largest thing we can do to drive down our carbon footprint is to increase output. So, all of those things come from a sharper and better breeding strategy.”

Pioneering Toward Tomorrow

A data-driven approach has set an inspiring precedent at McCarty’s Rexford dairy, proving managing dairy farming no longer relies on intuition alone. Data integration empowers farmers to make informed, objective decisions, boosting production and laying the foundation for sustained long-term improvements.

McCarty’s Rexford dairy is proof positive that milking 10,000 cows averaging over 102 lb. of milk a day shows that with the right management and the right facility, along with the right genetics, the future potential is unlimited.

“We’re very emotional guys, but we try to minimize the impact that our emotions have on our farm,” McCarty says. “So, we try to be very data driven. Genomic testing is a prime example of that.”

According to Weigel there is no one-size-fits-all prescription for making improvements on dairies.

“However, data makes a difference and using data that you can glean from your farms or from DHIA or genomic testing and allowing that to help guide you, you can’t go wrong with that,” he says. “As demand grows, so does the value of precision. Data-informed decisions are what drives us forward. That’s been a huge piece to improvements in the dairy industry over the past decade.”

Innovation at farms like McCarty’s proves that data matters, guiding improvements and empowering farmers to drive the dairy industry forward into a new era of excellence.

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From Challenge to Triumph: Mastering Corn Silage in the Upper Midwest

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 14:42:56 GMT

When it comes to dairying, making informed decisions is an everyday necessity. Recently, the focus has shifted toward feed production and management, which is crucial, especially given the current conditions in the upper Midwest. With tight grain storage and relatively low corn prices, many dairy producers are contemplating the strategic move of chopping additional acreage of corn.

The Value of Corn Silage Reserves
Mike Hutjens, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, highlights the advantages of increasing corn silage storage. He suggests with corn silage valued around $40 per ton, stockpiling for 2026 could prove advantageous. According to Hutjens, ensuring an ample reserve of 2025 corn silage through December 2026 not only facilitates prolonged fermentation but also enhances starch digestibility. However, he emphasizes the necessity to calculate the required amount based on potential forage level adjustments and possible farm expansions.

“You must have enough harvested and stored to allow feeding 2025 corn silage through December 2026 allowing extended fermentation to improve starch digestibility,” he says, noting it can take three to four months. “Larger inventory depends on the value of the corn silage compared to 2026 (not known) versus not feeding it for a year; you have your funds tied up in feed in storage (banker concerns). Be sure to calculate the amount needed based on ration changes (higher levels reaching 70% to 80% corn silage as the forage level in the ration) and possible expansion.”

Innovative Techniques in Forage Harvesting
Echoing this sentiment, Brian Vaassen, Midwest regional business manager for Standard Dairy Consultants, notes the challenges some areas face in harvesting forage. With the opportunity presented by lower corn prices, some producers are expanding their inventory by employing a technique known as high-chop. This method involves harvesting corn plants at an elevated point on the stalk, reportedly resulting in remarkable tonnage per acre. By leaving the lower part of the plant in the field, the silage boasts a higher starch concentration and improved digestibility.

“We are hearing reports of great tonnage per acre,” he says. “I also know of one dairy that goes back and chops the stalks for dry cows and heifer feed.”

Overcoming Crop Health Challenges
Current concerns also revolve around the health of corn crops, adversely impacted by diseases such as southern corn rust and tar spot. These issues can hinder photosynthesis and overall plant health, reducing yield and nutrient quality. Hutjens notes that while these diseases might not directly affect cow performance, they can negatively impact the quality, quantity and fermentation of the feed.

A striking illustration of these crop challenges is captured in a video by Iowa farmer Dan Striegel. The footage shows him harvesting corn blanketed by an orangish-red cloud of southern rust, a testament to the prevailing issues in Keokuk County. Striegel’s experience is a vivid reminder of the importance of vigilant monitoring and adaptive management approaches in farming.

Strategic Planning for the Future
Closer to home, my husband, Scott Bohnert, owner of Bohnert Jerseys in East Moline, Illinois, recently shared his insights when finishing chopping corn silage at the home dairy in late August. With a sudden temperature drop from nearly 100°F to 70°F, moisture levels in his silage decreased from 71% to 66% in just a week. While he reports good grain yields, the crop’s health is a constant concern due to ongoing changes and disease prevalence.

In light of these challenges, Bohnert advises those in the cattle feeding business to consider harvesting additional feed.

“There is surplus of hay on inventory in my area that doesn’t have a lot of value right now, but putting up extra relatively cheap feed is a good idea,” he says.

Navigating these complexities demands strategic planning and proactive management. Engaging with nutritionists and industry experts, alongside staying informed and adaptable, will be crucial in ensuring productivity and sustainability for years to come.

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Milking Parlor Maxed Out? Maybe Not…

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 17:00:00 GMT

If there is one place on a dairy farm that is most often overlooked to maximize both efficiency and cash flow, it is the milking parlor.

So often, dairy producers will tell me that their parlor is maxed out. Or perhaps they don’t want to pay more labor.

But when I walk into the pit, my eyes go directly to the opportunities to make minor changes that can yield big results, at a minimal cost if any.

In fact, one dairy I’ve worked with in particular stands out.

They were milking 1,400 cows three times a day in a double-16 parlor, getting 5.4 turns per hour. They felt “stuck” there, not knowing which lever to pull to move more cows through. But I knew this well-managed dairy was just a few tweaks away from doing even better.

One of the most high-impact changes we helped the parlor team make was to change up the prep protocol. The original protocol was to dip, strip and wipe each cow, down the line. Now, milkers make a “circle” as they prep the loaded cows, doing each step at a time: dipping all cows, stripping all cows and wiping all cows.

What difference could this simple change make?

Here were their results: They were able to add 200 cows more per each milking shift, without any additional labor. That was an increase from 5.4 to 7.2 turns per hour.

That’s more milk with the same amount of employees.

This is just one example of the low-hanging fruit for greater efficiencies and profitability that could be just waiting to be harnessed in your milking parlor right now. And at a time when dairy markets are in good shape and there is more appetite for milk by coops, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to up your output, harvest more milk and capture additional income on your milk check.

And perhaps the greatest opportunity is to do this all without adding additional labor or hours.

Stop the Summer Surge: How to Keep Your SCC in Check

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 19:51:19 GMT

When temperatures climb and humidity hangs in the air, somatic cell counts (SCC) often follow suit. The added stress of hot weather can weaken a cow’s immune defense, opening the door for mastitis and setting the stage for SCC levels to spike.

While you can’t control the weather, you can take control of the situation. Amber Yutzy, assistant director of animal system programs at Penn State, and Emily Krekelberg, extension educator at the University of Minnesota, share practical strategies to help keep SCC levels in check all summer long.

Heat Stress Headaches
“Somatic cell counts tend to rise with temperature and humidity levels during summer,” Yutzy says. “Environmental stress caused by the high summer temperatures are responsible for the elevated counts. These higher somatic cell counts can stick around on your farm for weeks or months.”

Yutzy explains cows are simply more vulnerable when the heat sets in.

“We often see decreased production during hot weather because cows spend more time standing or lying where it’s cooler and less time eating at the bunk,” she says. “Environmental mastitis also increases during this time because of more frequent exposure of the teat end to bacteria.”

Add stress to the mix, and the immune system takes a hit.

“Research has shown high circulating levels of stress hormones interfere with the ability of the immune system to destroy bacteria. When bacteria enters the udder, the cow’s immune response sends somatic cells to fight back. But stress hormones depress the function of those cells — weakening the defense against mastitis-causing organisms.”

Even only a few problem cows can skew your bulk tank.

“Just a few cows with really high individual SCC can raise the entire bulk tank level,” Krekelberg adds. “Be sure to look at individual cow reports. This can help you pinpoint problem cows and potentially make culling decisions.”

Start with Cultures: Identify the Source
If your SCC is climbing, the first step is to identify the cause. That means culturing.

“Start with a bulk tank culture to find out if the problem is environmental, contagious or something else,” Krekelberg recommends.

Results will guide your strategy, but it’s best to test on multiple days. Sometimes, one aggressive organism overwhelms the plate and hides others. For a clearer picture, consider culturing individual cows with persistent high SCCs or new infections.

When It’s Contagious: Contain and Control
If the culture reveals contagious culprits like Staph aureus, Strep ag, or mycoplasma, you’ll need to implement aggressive containment.

“Contagious cows should always be milked last to avoid spreading the organisms to uninfected cows,” Krekelberg notes.

Krekelberg also advises housing infected cows separately and ensuring proper teat dip coverage, both pre- and post-milking.

“Pre-dip should have a contact time of at least 30 seconds with the teat skin surface,” she says. “Post-dip must fully cover the teat.”

She also stresses not overlooking the basics. Take time to assess how your milking equipment is functioning and review your cow prep protocol with employees. Regular inspections of liners, hoses and vacuum levels are essential to ensure optimal performance and prevent contamination.

When It’s Environmental: Clean, Dry, Repeat
If your issue is environmental, the goal becomes eliminating moisture and bacteria from the cow’s surroundings.

“Add more bedding to stalls or packs and change bedding more often,” Krekelberg suggests. “It could be worth it to bed twice a day if you notice cows are really getting wet and dirty.”

She also stresses keeping milking equipment clean and ensuring spotless teats before unit attachment.

“There should not be any dirt or manure present. Taking the time to clean teats thoroughly makes a huge difference.”

7 Steps to Help Lower Your SCC This Summer
Yutzy, along with British dairy vet Peter Edmondson, a mastitis and milk quality expert and owner of UdderWise Ltd., outline seven tactical steps to improve SCC — especially during high-risk seasons like summer:

Keep bedding clean and dry. Humid summer air encourages bacterial growth. Maintain clean, dry stalls to limit bacterial exposure and encourage cows to lie down in stalls rather than in manure-laden alleys.
Use fans and sprinklers wisely. While cow cooling is crucial, mismanaged fans or sprinklers can backfire by creating wet stalls, overly damp cows or congregation zones that collect manure. Aim to cool cows without compromising cleanliness.
Control flies aggressively. Biting flies are more than just a nuisance —they’re stress-inducing vectors for mastitis-causing bacteria. A solid fly control program protects both herd health and productivity.
Train the team. Reinforce milking protocols with all employees. Proper technique helps limit new infections and ensures early detection of clinical mastitis cases.
Provide plenty of fresh, clean water. At 80°F, cows drink up to 50% more than they do at 40°F. Adequate water access is critical to help them cool themselves through increased respiration and perspiration.
Stop the spread. Create a separate milking group for high-SCC cows and always milk them last. Use gloves and keep them clean. Whether you use paper or cloth towels, one per cow is the rule — no sharing. Replace cloth towels after 500 to 600 uses, and wash at high temperatures.
Make a plan and track it. Edmondson stresses the importance of clear, measurable goals. Focus on cows contributing the most somatic cells to the bulk tank. Consider their history, production and treatment response. Don’t rush to cull. Instead, evaluate carefully with your vet. Most importantly, monitor progress monthly.

Stay Low on Purpose
Keeping somatic cell counts in check through the summer heat takes more than just good intentions. It requires a combination of sound management, consistent routines and close monitoring. By staying proactive and focused on the details, you can limit seasonal setbacks and protect your farm’s milk quality all year long.

“Having a low SCC never happens by accident,” Edmondson concludes. “It’s the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution.”

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Staph. aureus is being Confirmed More Frequently as the Culprit Contributing to Subclinical Mastitis

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:39:38 GMT

If you look hard enough, you can find Staphylococcus aureus (Staph aureus) in at least one cow on every dairy, according to Dr. Justine Britten a PhD animal scientist working at Udder Health Systems Inc .

Despite that bold statement, Britten is not implying every dairy has a mastitis problem or is gearing up for an outbreak. Rather, she is pointing out how common the pathogen is on the farm and that it often flies under the radar, contributing most frequently to subclinical disease.

“One thing I’m still surprised about, is I think that most producers, veterinarians, and consultants know that, and they don’t necessarily,” she tells Dr. Fred Gingrich, Executive Director for the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, during a recent “Have You Herd” podcast: Managing Staph aureus Mastitis in Dairy Cows

Britten says that the prevalence of Staph aureus is increasing, based on the 7,800 bulk milk samples her company tests, on average, each year. From 2017 to 2021, the prevalence stayed relatively flat at about 20%. Today, the prevalence is more than double that.

“We’re seeing it now at around 44% to 45% of all bulk tank samples we do are positive for Staph aureus,” she says.

Consider The Heifer Population

Something Britten says has surprised her is that heifers may calve into a subclinical infection, resulting from Staph aureus, even in a closed herd.

“Being a closed herd will help reduce the chances that’s going to happen, but it’s still possible,” she says.

In evaluating literature, Britten says between 2% and 15% of heifers are going to calve in with it, and they may have a clinical episode. However, cell counts in the infected heifers tend to be low which lessens detection.

“That’s one of the most frustrating things, is that positive heifers may stay around 100,000 or less with their cell count for quite a while before it begins to climb, and that makes it really difficult for producers to get their minds around the fact that this animal is permanently infected with a contagious pathogen. It also makes the disease that much more difficult to manage,” she says.

If the dairy is not proactively screening, heifers typically recover from an episode and look fine. At that point, they are usually returned to the herd where they may infect other heifers and cows.

“My takeaway is if Staph aureus was easier to see, more like a mycoplasma, I suspect producers would be a lot less tolerant of it than they currently are,” she says.

Screen All Cows And Heifers

Britten considers a monthly bulk tank culture as the bare minimum that a dairy can do towards monitoring pathogens in the bulk tank, and she calls it an incredibly helpful tool.

“You’re really operating in a vacuum otherwise,” she says. “Even by monitoring at the bulk tank level, we’re monitoring at the 10,000-foot view. But if [the dairy] is not doing any other culturing, it’s still better than nothing.”

Britten says she is a strong advocate for screening all cows and heifers as that’s the most proactive approach to prevention.

“It works, I know that it works, but it is very important to have some kind of audit system in place, so that you get them all, not 50% of them, not 70% of them, all of them, and that you have a management plan in place for what to do with them,” she says.

On the dairies she works with that have a very low staff positivity rate, they often sell the cows.

“They’re not going to tolerate them, while for others it’s too expensive to do that,” she says. “They’re going to go into a staff pen, or with the heifers, they try and treat them and see if we can get them cleared up. But yeah, screening, culturing of all fresh cows and heifers is the best way to find those animals early and to manage them.”

Take-Home Messages

In the podcast, Gingrich and Britten discuss that in outbreak situations it is important to evaluate why cows are getting infected and remember that cows typically get infected in the parlor and focus efforts there. This includes evaluating teat condition, parlor procedures and equipment function.

Aggressive culturing programs, segregation and culling are important to minimize risk.

Britten provides these three additional take-home points, per the AABP discussion:

Take-home point #1 – Not all Staph aureus colonies exhibit beta-hemolysis, therefore, it is important that all Staph colonies undergo coagulase testing to identify Staph aureus.

Take-home point #2 – Monthly bulk tank cultures are a bare minimum monitoring program for dairy farms.

Take-home point #3 – Somatic cell count is a lagging indicator and cultures will detect infections earlier. Britten emphasized that the difference lies in management practices. Proactive monitoring, culturing, and implementing strict control measures can prevent Staph aureus from becoming a major issue, even though the pathogen is present.

For more information and recommendations, be sure to check out the podcast: Managing Staph aureus Mastitis in Dairy Cows

Unlock the Secrets to Superior Milk Quality in 2025

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:20:58 GMT

At the recent 2025 National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting in Charlotte, N.C., three progressive dairy producers showcased their innovative approaches to enhancing milk quality. Patrick Christian of Christian Hill Dairy LLC in Wisconsin, Peter Gelber of Highbrighton Dairy in Georgia, and Adam Beard of Heglar Creek Dairy in Idaho shared insights into their operations.

Christian Hill Dairy: A Team Approach to Success
Patrick Christian spoke about the operational efficiency at Christian Hill Dairy LLC, where his team of five employees milk in their double-50 parlor.

“The teamwork allows us to maximize our productivity,” Christian says, emphasizing the role of each team member in transitioning between sides of the parlor efficiently.

Multiple expansions, growing from a double-24 to a double-50 as their herd increased, has allowed the farm to produce high-quality milk from their 2,600 cows. They plan to expand their herd to 4,000 head and are commencing the construction of a renewable natural gas (RNG) facility.

“It takes a very dedicated team on the bottom to help with success on the top,” Christian says.

This commitment to teamwork is essential to their operations and future growth. Wisconsin Farmer Combines His Two Loves Together—Education and Dairy

Highbrighton Dairy: Efficient Cow Flow and Focused Labor Utilization
Peter Gelber shares his experience managing Highbrighton Dairy, which houses 13,400 Holsteins milked in multiple parlors, including a 120-stall rotary parlor.

“Our rotary parlor efficiently milks 6,300 cows, yielding 900 cows an hour with an average of 94 lb. per cow,” Gelber explains.

Highbrighton Dairy also has an impressive somatic cell count averaging 75,000.

A strategic approach to managing livestock includes relocating problem cows. Gelber emphasizes the importance of labor, especially when fresh heifers are integrated.

“Labor is crucial, but it’s important not to waste resources on unnecessary personnel,” he says. His message to dairy producers was to ensure top-performing cows remain productive.

Gelber recommends not to getting fixated on one number, like the number of cows you are milking or what your profit per hundredweight is. He challenges everyone, and asks: “Are you firing your top cows because you let them out the door and they got 2 lb. of milk left in them.”

He also says having an extra person without guidance is a waste of money. The Path Forward

Heglar Creek Dairy: Embracing Robotics for Increased Efficiency
Adam Beard describes how Heglar Creek Dairy in Idaho has advanced by adopting robotic milking technology. Since building a second facility with 18 robots, the dairy milks around 1,050 head, up from 1,600 to 1,800 through automation advancements.

“The whole idea of robots is they milk [the cows] themselves,” he remarks, reflecting on the automation’s positive impact on cow management.

While robots present a self-sufficient model, Beard notes the importance of manual operations such as stall cleaning and bedside scraping, scheduling such activities thoughtfully to minimize cow disturbance.

“Our routine is every morning at 6 a.m. on Thursday is to get the cows up and push them to the one side,” he says, “to put compost down, push them through the foot bath and then do the same with the other side. So that’s about two hours in the morning that we have to get the cows up. It’s correlated with the same kind of feed truck that comes through. So, our thought is, well, they’re going to get up to eat then anyways.”

He says Mondays are vet day, and they have to disturb cows for that, but otherwise they try to be mindful about when they do their cow handling.

By introducing systems that streamline processes, such as automated teat dipping, Beard’s operation minimized manual intervention and bolstered cow flow, contributing to maintaining their somatic cell count under 100,000.

These producers illustrate that with dedicated teams, efficient operations and innovative technology, the dairy industry can achieve remarkable quality and productivity.

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Don’t Mismanage Heifer Mastitis

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 13:42:07 GMT

Nobody would want to show up to their first day on the job sick, but that’s exactly what happens when a first-lactation animal enters the milking herd with mastitis. In fact, between 29% to 74% of heifers have mastitis pathogens present before calving, and an estimated 12% to 57% end up contracting the infection at first calving.

According to Amber Yutzy, a dairy Extension educator for Pennsylvania State University, few dairy heifers exhibit clinical signs of mastitis before they calve. However, just one S. aureus infection can cause scar tissue to form in the udder. This can reduce the amount of secretory tissue, resulting in 10% less milk in the first lactation.

But how do heifers contract this costly disease in the first place? While there’s not a clear answer yet, studies have shown that teat canals of heifer calves can become colonized at very young ages. Therefore, it’s necessary to start taking mastitis precautions long before heifers enter the milking herd.

Prevention

Studies have shown that contagious mastitis organisms live primarily in the udders of infected cows and are spread to heifers when they are fed non-pasteurized milk or colostrum. This milk does not spread pathogens directly from the digestive tract to the udder, but calves most likely spread the pathogens by licking their udder or legs after consuming raw milk and these pathogens can remain infectious for variable periods of time. In order to help control the spread of contagious mastitis bacteria to calves and heifers, Yutzy recommends the following:

Pasteurize raw milk that is fed to calves. Avoid feeding waste milk from cows that are infected with mastitis.
Use individual stalls for pre-weaned calves.
Cull calves who suckle other calves.
Do not use freshening pens for sick cows.
Routinely culture milk from cows who are chronically infected with mastitis. This will help to identify those in the milking herd who have contagious mastitis.
Properly handle chronically infected cows to limit the spread of bacteria within the milking herd.

Control

While working to prevent mastitis in heifers is crucial, it’s also imperative to control the risk of bacteria being spread within the heifer’s environment. Most risk factors that contribute to the development of mastitis in heifers are related to exposure of heifers to mastitis causing organisms, Yutzy says. The hygiene of the environment is important to limit the risk of developing mastitis in heifers. She suggests the following tips to help control environmental mastitis.

All non-lactating heifers should be housed in an area that is well-bedded, dry and clean.
Non-lactating heifers should be housed in an environment that provides significant space for all animals. Overcrowding causes cleanliness issues.
Flies should be controlled in all groups of animals on the farm.
Feeding a well-balanced diet can enhance the immune system.
Developing routine vaccination protocols can boost immune response.

Passing the Torch from One Generation to the Next at Steinhurst Dairy

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 21:40:08 GMT

The speech “So God Made a Farmer,” given by Paul Harvey in 1978 to the National FFA Organization, tugs at every farmer’s heart. After all, it is both admirable and an honor when a child wants to be just like their parents when they grow up. Ohio dairy farmers Kurt and Robin Steiner can attest to their brimming pride when it was announced over the loudspeaker on senior football night that their oldest son, Christian, would take over the family farm after he graduated college.

Like many farm kids, Christian, along with siblings, Nicole and Zach, were taught the values of hard work, commitment and sacrifice on their family farm, Steinhurst Dairy, in Creston. Ohio.

When they look across the landscape of their family farm, Christian and his siblings see bountiful blessings.

“You see the animals when they’re born, raised all the way up,” Christian says. “You see God’s creation every day you work outside, and you work with your family.”

Est. 1959

The importance of family runs deep for Christian, who represents the eighth generation of dairy farmers in Wayne County. His grandfather, great-grandfather and great uncles helped established Steinhurst Dairy on their current location in 1959. His father, Kurt, describes his childhood farm as a typical rural Midwestern dairy.

After graduating from Ohio State in 1988, Kurt decided to head west to California to take a job with Cargill. He worked there for two years before landing another job with a big chemical company, but deep down, Kurt knew Ohio was home. He returned to his family dairy in 1994. At the time, his family was milking 140 cows in a double-6 herringbone parlor.

Kurt came back with a team player attitude and knew he needed to be an asset to his father and his uncle, John.

“I came back with the mindset I needed to shut up and listen for a couple of years,” he says.

Slowly, the Steiner family started to expand their dairy that now sits at 600 milking cows and 1,100 acres of cropland.

Despite the hustle and bustle of farming, the Steiner’s took time to pause in 2002 to talk about succession planning and what it would take to bring Kurt and his younger brother, Eric, into the operation as partners. With the help of a family attorney, the Steiner’s put together an extensive succession plan that addressed death, buyout of partners, how long the younger generation would have to work before coming into the farm as a partner and so much more for their family dairy. This conversation is vital for any dairy operation, but the Steiner’s would realize just how beneficial it would be for them in the coming years.

Handling Grief

As if 2009 wasn’t hard enough with a lackluster dairy economy, life suddenly came to a halt for the Steiner family on Super Bowl Sunday afternoon when Kurt’s father passed away from a heart attack.

Crediting solid management, where every partner pulled their weight, and a life insurance policy the farm had on their father, the dairy was able to continue without additional headaches.

“Our dairy didn’t miss a beat as far as keeping things moving forward,” Kurt says. “You don’t plan for death, but it certainly can happen quickly.”

After their father’s death, Kurt and Eric became 54% owners and their uncle John, a 46% owner, which was outlined in the succession plan.

In 2016, John had a stroke. He was sidelined for a year, only to return for a few months before undergoing a heart valve replacement. The surgery unfortunately never allowed him to go back to work on the farm. However, his leadership continues to be appreciated by the partners today.

Just, two months ago, at the age of 52, Eric went in for prostate cancer surgery, returned home, went into cardiac arrest and passed away. Kurt recalls his last words to Eric before his surgery: “I love you. Don’t worry about coming back. We will take care of it.”

Although Kurt was referring to taking care of the dairy while his brother recovers, a life insurance policy helped take care of the farm. Kurt notes none of his business partners walked off the dairy like everyone had envisioned.

“You’re not going to be here forever, so you better have it together,” he adds.

Succession Planning Advice

Kurt readily admits his farm doesn’t have it all figured out when it comes to succession planning. He wholeheartedly believes the key ingredient is communication among the partners during the long process.

“If there’s no communication, it is never going to work,” he says.

Appreciating the younger generation’s drive and passion is something Kurt admires.

“Truthfully, I don’t think there is a greater joy than watching your kids want to take over what you’ve established,” he adds.

After graduating from Ohio State University – ATI in 2018 with a degree in dairy science, Christian oversees the calf and heifer program as well as fresh cow protocols for the farm.

According to Kurt, the farm’s culture also plays a part in succession planning because the next generation isn’t going to operate and run the family business the same hours and the same way as the previous. He believes establishing work-life balance illustrates to the younger generation they too can achieve the very same balance.

“When a kid sees dad was able to attend activities and come inside for supper, this all sets the stage for what’s next,” he notes. “If the old man is dragging down the attitude of everybody and never taking a break, why would the younger generation want to come back to work in an environment like that?”

It’s a blessing, Kurt adds, that Robin came from dairy roots.

“She understood it all from day one,” he notes. “Sometimes the spouses who are not from this kind of background watch their friends’ spouse join in on all the fun things over the weekend and if you’re spouse isn’t prepared for that, it can be a rough adjustment.”

Crediting a solid foundation built on faith and family, the Steiner’s have been able to work together on the family farm.

“If you can foster a positive culture in your operation, where members want to be together, then you realize this life is worthwhile is key,” Kurt adds.

Every quarter, the Steiner family gathers for management meetings where no finger pointing is allowed.

“Everyone is expected to come with ideas.”

Understanding it is easy to be pulled into different directions and put off conversations for another day, Kurt highly recommends not postponing transition planning for tomorrow.

“It could simply be too late,” he adds.

The one question Kurt says needs to be agreed on is the end objective for the farm.

“What is the future goal of the farm?” he questions. “If you figure that out, it makes the whole succession planning a lot easier because if everyone wants it to continue to the next generation, then you just have to figure out how to execute it.”

The key component is communication and defining expectations for all members, including non-farming family members.

“Have those uncomfortable conversations,” Robin says.

Those conversations the Steiner’s executed early on, along with open communication, hard work and strong values have allowed Steinhurst Dairy to pass the torch from one generation to the next despite a string of grief and mountains of heartache.

Evaluating the Economics of Adding Management Practices or Products to the Farm

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 20:11:19 GMT

Most of the management practices implemented on the farm are either to manage disease or increase milk production. The market is flooded with products that can help with both goals. Understanding the economics of management practice adoption can make it easier to make adoption decisions.

Determining Disease Costs

Disease costs can be calculated using the simple equation: C = L + E or Costs = Losses + Expenses. Expenses are more straightforward to configure because they include the costs we typically associate with treating the disease, like drugs or added labor. However, preventative expenses are often overlooked. For example, using a pre or post-dip should be considered when evaluating mastitis expenses. Losses can be more challenging to estimate because the costs are not direct. Losses may come in the form of lost milk yield, decreased fertility, or lost milk premiums.

If nothing is done to manage or prevent a disease, the total cost of the disease comes from losses alone. Once a management practice is added, the losses will decrease to a certain point, and expenses will increase. A technical optimum is reached when disease incidence drops to a point where the incidence rate can go no lower regardless of what management practice is added. In that case, expenses are the highest portion of the total disease cost. Often, the economic optimum, the point where we see no financial returns to lowering a disease incidence rate, comes well before the technical optimum.

Marginal Level Milk

The adoption of products or changing management practices to increase milk yield should be evaluated using marginal economics. This means the cost and benefit of increasing milk per pound. Like disease management, a point will come in which the benefit of increased milk yield will not cover the costs. All costs should be considered to make the marginal level milk yield as accurate as possible. For example, feed costs typically increase as milk yield increases, so when determining the potential benefit of adding a product to the farm, feed costs and the costs of the product need to be considered.

Before adopting a product or changing a management practice, try to consider the whole picture. Determine which direct and indirect benefits or drawbacks might occur from management adoption. Overestimating costs of management practices can help ensure that hidden costs may be accounted for.

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Facility Focus: Can Your Employees Actually Detect These Equipment Issues?

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:44:17 GMT

Cracked hoses, worn-out inflations, air bleeds—these are just a few of the common problems that can pop up when maintaining milking equipment. If left unchecked, they can lead to costly downtime, compromised milk quality and even animal health issues.

But the real question is: are your milkers trained to detect these issues early before they escalate? Ernest Hovingh, extension veterinarian at Pennsylvania State University, provides the following tips when it comes to training employees to spot and solve milking equipment problems when the arise.

The Big Four

“Milkers should also be trained to assess the basic condition and function of the milking equipment,” Hovingh says. “Some of the most common things that they should be looking for include blocked air bleed vents, cracked pulsation (short air) tubes, twisted inflations, and pinched hoses. While this may seem like an extensive list of things to check, once a milker is trained to be observant for these things, it can become second nature and does not require a lot of dedicated time or effort.”

He suggests training milkers to identify the following issues:

Blocked Air Vents – Air vents in the claw or in the inflation are intended to create a deliberate ‘leak’ of air into the claw, to promote milk flow away from the claw and teat and into the milk hose, according to Hovingh. Occasionally, these vents can become blocked with debris, disrupting the flow of milk and increasing the risk of environmental mastitis.

Hovingh recommends training milkers to identify where these vents are located and how to check to make sure they are functioning. “A small hiss of air can usually be heard being admitted into a functional vent, but if they are not sure if a vent is functioning properly, a small piece of a [milking] glove can be held up to the vent. If the vent is open, the glove should ‘stick’ to the vent.
Cracked Tubes – Another common equipment problem Hovingh often sees are cracked short air tubes. These defective tubes can interfere with the pulsation of the liner and can prevent the vacuum from working correctly.

“Milkers should be checking to see that the short air tubes are in good condition when they wash the milking clusters at the end of milking, but they should also be listening for vacuum leaks and looking for cracked tubes while milking,” Hovingh says. “Proactively changing the short air tubes on a regular schedule should also be part of the parlor maintenance routine.”
Worn-out Inflations - During scheduled maintenance days, milking equipment companies will often provide a service of placing new liners into an additional set of shells so that the milkers simply only replace the shell and inflation as one unit. However, it’s important to ensure that inflations don’t become worn-out or misaligned.

“Milkers should be checking to see that the alignment indicators on the inflations are lined up properly at least at the beginning of each milking,” Hovingh says. “Even with shell and inflations that have alignment notches, there can be some very obvious twisting problems with these units.”
Pinched Hoses – Hoses that are too long or too short can often become pinched off during milking or wash cycles. This can result in reduced milk flow or un-sanitized equipment.

“Milkers should be trained to watch for any restrictions/deformations in any hoses and immediately report them to the parlor manager,” Hovingh adds. “Regular inspections of all hoses every 2-4 weeks, and a regular replacement schedule are useful to prevent problems and allow for early identification.”

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FDA Says New Round of Tests Prove the U.S. Milk Supply is Safe From H5N1 Virus

Thu, 02 May 2024 13:04:55 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is once again confirming the milk supply is safe with a new round of tests as proof. The latest round of tests come as the U.S. dairy industry continues to battle the outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in cows.

Just days after FDA and USDA confirmed viral material of highly pathogenic avian influenza was found in retail milk samples , FDA says further testing shows pasteurization is killing the virus. A lab at St. Judes Children’s Hospital is taking the genetic material found in the milk and culturing it in live eggs to ensure it didn’t regrow.

According to FDA, the additional testing confirms the safety of the commercial milk supply with what it calls substantial data. The tests were done on 297 samples of milk from 38 states. FDA also tested retail powdered infant formula and says all results were negative.

International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) tells AgWeb this also confirms the requirement of pasteurization, or heat treatment, of milk in order to move interstate in this country, works in killing all bacteria and viruses.

“The testing that the FDA has continued to release has only cemented that further,” says Matt Herrick, senior vice president of public affairs and communications at IDFA. “The results they received at the end of the week on Friday, determined that the virus was in fact dead. So it would not regrow and would not infect, and pasteurization, at the standard times and temperatures under the federal pasteurized milk ordinance, is effective.”

IDFA also adds more than 99% of all the milk and dairy products in our country are pasteurized.

“And that’s been ongoing for decades and decades,” he says. “And that’s what ensures the safety of our commercial milk supply.”

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A week ago Tuesday, the FDA also reassured consumers the pasteurized milk they drink is safe after the agency announced retail milk samples tested positive for fragments of HPAI H5N1. Further testing by a lab at St Jude’s Childrens Hospital showed the virus is not live, which means there is no risk to human health. However, FDA noted additional testing was still being done.

Dr. Richard Webby runs the lab at St. Jude that conducted the testing. He told AgWeb his lab confirmed there is no virus in any of the retail milk samples, but says it was a small sample set they’ve tested so far and more testing is coming. He says even with the limited tests completed so far, his findings show pasteurization is killing the virus.

“It is actually expected that RNA will remain in the milk after pasteurization. Heating (pasteurization) will kill the virus but won’t necessarily destroy the genetic material of the virus (RNA). On its own, the RNA isn’t infectious. It is important to reiterate that the presence of RNA does not mean there is live virus. In contrast, our data says there is no live virus,” Webby told AgWeb.

He says genetic material of the virus, or RNA, is similar to the DNA inside human cells and provides the code to make all of the proteins the virus needs. However, he says while it’s key for influenza viruses, this is different from other viruses in that on its own, the RNA can’t do anything.

“It has to be nicely coated in virus proteins and delivered properly to the inside of a cell. Pasteurization destroys this part,” he explains.

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Considering his lab was unsuccessful at regrowing the virus, he says the testing confirmed the RNA in milk is from dead virusses, and therefore, the milk can’t cause any infection.

“In my opinion, based on the small data set we have, yes, the milk is safe,” he says. “I am still consuming it at home.”

Webby points out there is much more researchers still need to learn about HPAI H5N1, especially in cattle. He says influenza in cows is new, and the industry continues to learn as more research is conducted.

In late March, USDA APHIS confirmed the mystery illness that was impacting dairy herds in the Texas Panhandle, New Mexico and Kansas now had a diagnosis: Influenza A. USDA says genetic sequencing revealed it was the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that’s been in the U.S. for two years. The outbreak has now been confirmed in nine states , however, it’s unclear how many herds it’s impacting.

The CDC claims the outbreak has been confirmed in 36 herds , but testing of retail milk samples last week put that number into question. Viral fragments were found in nearly 40% of the milk samples tested, indicating the outbreak is more widespread that current government reports.

How to Shave Hours Off of the Milking Shift

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:43:48 GMT

Are you pulling your hair out because your milking parlor is constantly running behind schedule, the seven hour shift is stretching out to nine hours and the flow of feeding, cleaning stalls and everything else in the back of the barn is thrown off because you just can’t seem to get all the groups milked on time?

If that’s you, you’re not alone. This is one of the biggest frustrations and time and money drains for a lot of dairies.

I sat down recently with Elsie Gonzalez Leach, founder of Motiva Dairy Consulting, to find out how she is helping clients shave hours off of milking shifts on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast.

“Usually what I hear is that we’re milking three times a day and we’re having trouble keeping consistency among the shifts,” Gonzalez Leach says. “That’s throwing everything else off because it’s taking eight and a half hours just for milking, and the next day nine … and everything else is then thrown off.”

This problem may not be due to what’s happening in the parlor, but rather what is going on in the barn. Gonzalez Leach says, “Most times, it’s about working with the people and showing them better ways to move the animals efficiently from the pen into the holding area.”

To show employees better ways, she puts on her overalls and gets out in the barn. This is where she often finds the bottlenecks in cow flow, which are directly related to the habits and beliefs around what it takes to make cows move.

“It’s this perception … if I don’t whistle, they won’t move. Or if I don’t hit the panel, the cows won’t come in,” Gonzalez Leach says.

She challenges those beliefs by working alongside employees and supporting them through making a change in their cow handling practices, such as not whistling or making noise.

In her experience, it takes three days and three shifts of being there and coaching employees through these changes. That’s when they not only shift their beliefs but can start seeing the results to prove that the change made a positive difference.

With one particular farm, Gonzalez Leach was able to cut two hours off the time it was taking to get all of the cows milked, reducing the milking shift from 8 hours down to 6 hours.

As a consultant, the key to success, she says, is not simply in telling people what changes need to be made, but rather, guiding them through and revisiting the adjustments to ensure they stick, so that dairies can successfully shave hours off of their milking shifts.

To listen to the entire conversation on the UpLevel Podcast, click here:

For more from UpLevel, read:

Will the 305-Day Lactation Standard Go the Way of the Dinosaur?

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 12:13:08 GMT

Many of today’s dairy cows are still milking heavily at dry off. In fact, nutritional strategies and commercial products have been developed to help cows diminish milk production and prevent mastitis and other health challenges at the end of lactation.

This begs the question: if a cow is still milking 100 pounds a day after 10 months of lactation, would it be better to allow her to keep milking, if she wasn’t pregnant and due to calve again?

For decades, 305 days of lactation, plus a 60-day dry period, has added up to a dairy cow’s target calving interval of 1 year. But is this a standard that needs to be broken? Dairy researchers worldwide are exploring the possibility of lengthened lactations, based on the realities of modern dairy production.

The topic is explored in a recent article published in the Journal of Animal Science by Dutch researchers from Wageningen University and Research, and another in the journal Animal by researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark. Their shared rationale for longer lactations included:

With fewer calvings, cows would pass less frequently through the transition period of giving birth and freshening, which is considered the riskiest time for cow health.
Sexed semen and genomic selection have allowed for more strategic development of replacement heifers, resulting in the need for fewer surplus calves.
A longer voluntary waiting period (VWP) before rebreeding could potentially improve fertility by allowing them to return to a state positive energy balance upon insemination.
Longer lactations would result in reduction in labor associated with drying off, calving, and disease treatments.

Conversely, the researchers also explored the potential downside of extended lactation. Those factors included low milk production at the end of lactation, and cows becoming over-conditioned prior to calving. On a herd level, another result would be less total meat produced annually, due to fewer calves being born.

Another potential drawback relates to herd-wide genetic progress. If a herd’s highest-producing cows are selected for extended lactation, the contribution of their superior genetics would be reduced because they would be producing fewer offspring. This challenge could be addressed by using advanced reproduction technologies like embryo transfer and ovum pick-up to multiply their genetics more rapidly.

One research-confirmed observation made by both teams was that first-calf heifers have greater lactation persistency compared to multiparous cows. The Danish researchers noted that first-lactation cows promote nutrient partitioning into both milk production and body growth, whereas multiparous cows are done growing.

“This might explain why extending the lactation of primiparous cows seems more advantageous than for multiparous cows,” they noted. The Danish group cited two studies – both examining just single lactations – showing that extended lactation was more advantageous for primiparous cows versus multiparous cows in terms of daily milk yield and economic profitability.

While multiple factors for an individual herd would play into decisions to adopt extended lactations, the researchers discussed three approaches that could be applied to embrace the strategy: (1) adjust the entire herd to a longer calving interval; for example, 18 months; (2) set a longer calving interval for first-calf heifers by delaying their breeding with a longer VWP, while maintaining a standard, 305-day lactation and 12-month calving interval for second-lactation and older cows; and (3) use pre-determined, individual-cow metrics to set optimum breeding dates and lactation lengths for each animal in the herd.

Both the Danish and Dutch papers focused on the limited studies that have been conducted evaluating various factors at play in extended lactation. It is an area of research interest that both teams said requires more in-depth study in the future.

For more on herd health, read:

Cows Will Tell You Whether They're Happy With How They're Milked

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 21:40:28 GMT

Teat end scoring provides Paul Virkler with some valuable insights into a dairy cow’s milking experience.

“In the immediate term, it tells us whether that cow is happy with the way she was milked,” says Virkler, DVM, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Services, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

In addition, teat end scoring provides Virkler with insights into whether the milking process is harmful to the animal and what needs to be addressed.

“Short-term changes of the teats can prolong the closure of the teat canal after milking and make the cow more susceptible to disease such as environmental mastitis,” he says. “Also, these short-term changes can lead to longer-term changes over time such as hyperkeratosis.”

The Scoring Process

Virkler uses guidelines provided by the Teat Club International (TCI) for the scoring process. TCI recommends scoring a minimum of 80 cows or 20% of a herd, if the herd is larger than 400.

“Make sure you score a haphazard sample of the cows being milked. You want first-lactation animals, older cows, mid-lactation, etc., a good representation of the herd,” he says.

Factors such as hardness, color changes, swelling and abrasions figure into the assessment, which should be done immediately after the milking unit is removed from the animal.

Each teat on the udder should be scored, using a scale of 1 to 4:
1 or Normal – This would be a smooth teat.
2 or Slight Ring – A light ring is visible on the teat but no cracking or keratin fronds.
3 or Rough – The teat end shows a rough ring with some cracking and keratin fronds.
4 or Very Rough – The teat has >4 mm of rough keratosis on the teat end.

(Farm Journal)

When To Score
Dr. Bill Koffman, Dairyland Veterinary Service, Casco, Wis., recommends scoring a milked herd on a quarterly basis.

“Changes in weather, workers and equipment can cause the teat end to change,” he says. “(Scoring) should also be done a week or two after changes have been made to the milking system, procedures have changed or new personnel have been trained. The scores should be saved and compared to ones previously done to get an idea of how the milking process is changing,” he adds.

Koffman wrote an article on assessing teat ends, which is available here: https://bit.ly/3KWSDYn

Virkler says he gets concerned when 20% of the animals in a herd have teat ends showing some level of damage.

(Farm Journal)

“You have to consider the type of damage present. We might accept some firmness issues in the teat ends, for example. But when there are open lesions – cuts and cracks on the teats — the producer needs to take action when that reaches 5% or more. This signals a problem in the herd that needs to be addressed,” he says.

While teat end scoring helps identify a problem exists, the producer and veterinarian still have to investigate the source. It could be a weather issue, equipment (pulsation or vacuum) or a milking management problem leading to low milk flow, or some combination of factors.

“We can collect the data, but the herd veterinarian is critical to interpreting the results and determining what management plan or practices need to be implemented,” Virkler says.

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Managing Mastitis Through Changing Environments

Sat, 19 Aug 2023 11:58:00 GMT

As we have, hopefully, made it through the hottest part of the year, we also hope that SCC and mastitis incidence will decrease along with the temperature. But as we know, mastitis and SCC management are essential all year round. Somatic cell count averages for 2022 were highest in the year’s late fall and winter months. Below are some considerations for managing mastitis as the weather changes.

Record to control

Problems cannot be determined if data is not being reviewed. Evaluate bulk tank, individual cow SCC, and clinical mastitis incidence by season. Look for trends to determine if management SOPs need to be reevaluated during different times of the year. Evaluating historical milk quality data can help plan for the future. Making notes about weather changes can also help determine if management needs to be reevaluated.

The more information we have about a case of mastitis, the more educated decision we can make about mastitis management. Determining the infecting pathogen by sending milk to be cultured or using on-farm culturing provides the most information in guiding milk quality decisions. Keeping a record of contagious and environmental cases can help give more guidance when management decisions need to be made. If most mastitis cases are caused by environmental pathogens, cow and environmental cleanliness need to be the focus of management. An increase in contagious pathogens could indicate problems with milking prep in the parlor. Keep in mind bacteria populations can change throughout the year.

Bacteria thrive in different environments

Do not treat all bugs or mastitis outbreaks the same. With changes in the environment can come changes in bacteria populations on farms. Klebsiella seems to be causing more mastitis cases over the past couple of years, and we mainly see herd outbreaks in the spring. Part of this is because Klebsiella thrives in a wet environment. During winter, when teat skin becomes drier, we may see increased Staph species. Treatment and management of these bacteria types need to be specific depending on the bacteria.

Stick to and refine the basics

When managing mastitis, the basics should be adopted all year round but refined depending on the time of year. The basics should include keeping cows clean and dry, adopting proper milking procedures, using aseptic techniques when administering intramammary infusions, and implementing a mastitis vaccine. Review and make necessary changes to SOPs as changes in the cows’ environment occur.

Q&A with the president and CEO of Tillamook County Creamery Association

Wed, 31 May 2023 15:26:09 GMT

The president and CEO of Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), Patrick Criteser shares his career path, advice, lessons learned and more in a casual sit-down conversation.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.

Favorite Quote: “The best way to get something done is to do it.” To me, this doesn’t mean “do it yourself,” it emphasizes the importance of forward momentum for an organization. Get moving and make adjustments as you go!

Most Valued Books on Business: Eating the Big Fish by Adam Morgan and Good to Great by Jim Collins.

Describe your career path

Prior to joining TCCA, I spent eight years as president and CEO at Coffee Bean International and one year as co-CEO of Farmer Brothers. I also held management and strategic development roles at some of the most respected brands, including Nike, The Walt Disney Company and Procter & Gamble.

What are your key responsibilities?

I serve the dairy families of Tillamook County by leading their company, TCCA. In my 10 years at TCCA, I’m proud of have transformed this long-respected agricultural cooperative into one of the fastest growing consumer food brands in the United States. Today, one in four U.S. households buy Tillamook products.

What is your connection to farming?

The Tillamook County Creamery Association is a 114-year-old farmer-owned cooperative. As a cooperative, the business is owned and governed by the farming families of Tillamook County, and in my role as president & CEO, I serve these families and report to a board of directors comprised entirely of farmers. I have spent much of my career in food and other agriculture-centric business, and grew up on a hobby farm in a small rural town.

What business lessons have you learned that could be applied to farmers? Strategy is important, but 90% of success in business is execution. How teams perform together in reaction to challenges and opportunities determine whether a business will struggle or thrive. Honestly, I might have learned this as much from farmers as from anywhere else. As a fifth-generation Oregonian, I was drawn to TCCA’s deep roots in Oregon and the farmers’ entrepreneurial grit, ingenuity, and commitment to producing high-quality dairy products for over a century.

What is a leadership lesson that you’ve learned in your career?

As the leader, you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, and it is important to create an environment where everyone is encouraged to contribute their ideas. I am a big believer in the power of teams.

What is your leadership philosophy?

One of our core values at TCCA (possibly the most important) is “One Team.” This means we are all working toward the same goals and supporting each other. This is a powerful driver of business results. It is the leader’s responsibility to ensure the destination is clear to everyone and to remove barriers to teamwork and stamp out the politics that cause teams and people to be at odds with each other.

What is your biggest challenge as a leader?

I am at heart an engineer and I started my career on the plant floor working shifts. As we have gotten much larger, it has been hard for me to remember to operate at the right elevation and to trust our teams to manage the business on a day-to-day basis. Fortunately, we have fantastic leaders throughout the business who are not shy about telling me “We’ve got this” when I am not needed.

Innovation Drives Sustainable Success

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 01:52:30 GMT

Clever. Creative. Leading edge. These words naturally come to mind when visiting Hildebrand Farms Dairy in Junction City, Kan., although Melissa Hildebrand-Reed would say they just try to do better every single day. In honor of their drive to do better in all things, Hildebrand Farms Dairy was named the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) 2022 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year.

The Hildebrand family has been at the forefront of innovation — from their processing plant to multifaceted industry partnerships to tapping into the A2 milk market. Each advancement has paved a sustainable path of success for this four-generation farm.

Farm History

Migrating from Switzerland to Kansas City, Mo., in 1920, Arnold Hildebrand began work as a machinist with the Union Pacific Railroad. After marrying his sweetheart, Rose, they moved with the railroad to Junction City. With a growing family, the couple wanted to earn more money so they started a small hobby farm. A decade later, they began selling milk. Arnold and Rose had seven children, six daughters and one son, Carl.

When Carl married in 1949, the farm was passed to him and his wife, Margaret. The couple had four children. When their sons expressed interest in continuing the farm legacy, Carl took out a loan in 1975 to build a freestall barn and parlor.

Today Hildebrand Farms is owned and operated by brothers David, and his wife, Kathy, and Alan, and his wife, Mary. Alan’s daughter Melissa serves as the operations manager and David’s son, Tod, offers a helping hand with the crop enterprise and assists with all the day-to-day operations.

Processing Plant

With the goal to create a fully sustainable farm, the Hildebrand family decided to build an on-site bottling plant in September 2008. The farm became members of Central Equity, who was willing to purchase any leftover milk.

“We were able to sell them what we had left, which initially was 90%,” Alan shares.

It took two years for the farm to use 75% of their milk in their bottling plant. Within four years, they were up to 100% capacity, which is not necessarily ideal because you don’t want to outstretch your supply and demand, Alan says.

Today, they have a strategic milk marketing plan with a general rule of thumb to carry a small excess supply. The surplus is then used in a nearby cheese plant and, if they find themselves in a bind, Central Equity buys the milk.

“We are fortunate to still have that relationship,” Alan notes.

Appreciating the neighborly relationships, the Hildebrands return the favor when nearby creameries similar in size and scale are short on milk by supplying them with extra.

“Creating and maintaining those relationships is huge,” Melissa remarks.

Today, Hildebrand has nine varieties of milk and two varieties of butter in more than 150 stores throughout Kansas. Melissa shares the real motivation for processing their own milk was spurred by her father and uncle, who wanted to continue the farm’s legacy.

“I’m grateful to have a farm that I could come back to because I know so many people don’t have that opportunity,” she states.

With the changing tastes and diets of today’s consumers, the Hildebrands began refocusing their herd’s genetics two years ago by using sires with strong A2 traits.

“The No. 1 trait we select bulls for is A2A2. The second trait is butterfat,” Melissa says.

Understanding they are a voice for the industry, Alan says they never take the stance that their milk is healthier than others.

The Hildebrands open-door policy in their local community allows them to not only promote their products but educate the consumer about the dairy industry. More than 10,000 students tour the farm annually, and the farm hosts various events such as yoga on the farm, cows cooks and conservation, harvest festivals and “moo-vie” nights as well as operate a farm store on the dairy.

Industry Partnership

With the proximity of the USDA Research Center only 30 miles east in Manhattan, it paved the way for the Hildebrands to be at the forefront of national research and product development. Two years ago, a partnership was established between the USDA Research Center and Hildebrand Farms Dairy, focusing on researching the direct effects of mosquitoes on livestock.

“They were not only looking at the ways to trap and count mosquitoes, but also looking at devices essentially that could eliminate and ward off mosquitoes,” Melissa says.

The partnership has been a win-win for both the Hildebrands and USDA.

“The entomologists and biologists have incredible minds that want to make a difference for the dairy industry, but they have very little background or knowledge of the application to make it happen,” Melissa says. “So, in a way — they need us, more than we need them.”

One project spurred other project ideas and USDA asked Melissa if they could collect flies for a research project on her farm.

“Of course, we were all in, especially having customers visiting our farm, fly control is huge,” she reports.

Yet another USDA project included SCR monitoring tags on 40 initial animals to watch tail switches and ear movement.

“It’s just awesome,” Melissa notes. “Having research that benefits our farm, as well as the entire industry, is something we feel grateful to be part of.”

The Hildebrands have also worked with Kansas State University’s dairy plant to collaborate on various recipes for their butter and ice cream. They serve as an in-field teaching center for education opportunities with students from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agriculture. Many of those students then continue to advance through an on-farm internship program, which is also open to local veterans.

“We find great help from students and veterans who are eager to learn about farming and want to build their resumes,” Melissa adds.

Over the past decade, the Hildebrands have established a solid relationship with Kroger and currently have products in 53 of their grocery stores. They also have products in Sprouts, Natural Grocers, Whole Foods and Hy-Vee while continuing to supply local coffee shops and restaurants. In 2021, they started a partnership with a new company focused on door-to-door deliveries in Kansas City, Topeka and Lawrence with plans to expand into the Wichita metropolitan area.

The Future Road

The Hildebrands have been in business for more than nine decades because of their outside-the-box thinking to remain sustainable. Processing and selling milk direct to the consumer while showcasing the farm and entire industry became the focus of the small operation.

While facing the same challenges as other dairies, the Hildebrands are looking at robots to milk their cows in the future.

“Technology that can push us to the future — connecting with consumers is such a cool opportunity on showcasing what robots can do,” Melissa notes.

The farm milks 150 cows along with farming 1,850 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa. While the Hildebrands are always planning for future growth, they illustrate that growth doesn’t always have to equal more cows. The farm closely monitors the dollars and cents with products and distribution, focusing on the bottom line.

“Our growth can include more income per gallon of milk,” Alan says.

While there are twice as many dairy cows in Kansas as there were 20 years ago, one of the state’s relatively small dairies has been able to continue down the road of success without adding cows. Innovation and collaboration, not only within the industry, but in their local community as well, is what sets Hildebrand Dairy apart and gives them the title of Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year.

“We try to make do with what we have, but also make it work well for us,” Melissa shares. “We simply try to follow God’s plan and do things the way they are intended and say yes when opportunities present themselves.”

TikTok: These New York Farm Girls Won’t Stop Telling Their Dairy Story

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 21:28:32 GMT

The names Evelyn, Claudia and Jojo Leubner might not ring a bell, but if you search for NYFarmGirls on social media, you’ll quickly see they certainly have made a name for themselves. With more than a million subscribers across the board, the Leubner sisters use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to share their lives as fourth-generation dairy farmers.

Each sister has their own role on their Marietta, New York farm. Evelyn works with the cows, completing herd checks, milking cows and helping with vaccinations, while Claudia’s focus is on fieldwork. She assists during planting and harvest, as well as works in the shop with machinery maintenance. Jojo is the calf manager, which is a pretty big job for a high schooler. She feeds, beds and looks after the calves every day.

The family owns Maple Lane Farms, which is home to 500 cows, mostly consisting of Holsteins with a few Jerseys. The family also farms 2,100 acres of corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat. The farm is owned by a family partnership between their father, uncle and two cousins.

“Growing up on our family’s dairy and crop farm is a blessing I will never take for granted,” says Evelyn. “Sure, the days of working in cold temperatures and long hours can get tiring, but nothing is more rewarding than farming. Our entire childhood was filled with learning animal husbandry, how to provide for yourself, and working alongside family. We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

With more than half a million followers and some nearly 15 million likes on TikTok, the Leubner sisters have succeeded in their mission to show consumers the truth about agriculture by sharing their lives on the farm and busting myths about the dairy industry.

“Seeing the disconnect from agriculture is what inspires us to share our story through TikTok,” Evelyn says. “Most people will never step foot on a farm. Using TikTok, we can bring the farm to them through our phone lenses.”

The social media journey for the trio began in 2015 on Instagram. The sisters state that the most rewarding part of their journey has been the ability to show the public the truth of dairy farming and modern-day agriculture.

“We can reach thousands of people with the click of a button,” Evelyn states. “TikTok is amazing because people don’t have to be following you to see your content.”

The sisters share that being able to make a video that non-followers can see, has helped them become well known.

“All you need is for your video to come upon the FYP (for you page) and thousands, even millions of people can see your content,” Claudia explains. “It works in our favor because we can show a huge amount of people our daily life in agriculture and help them become more connected to where their food comes from.”

Document Your Day

Along with their growing TikTok followers, NYFarmGirls have 106,000 Instagram followers, more than 31,000 Facebook likes and over 73,000 YouTube subscribers.

In addition to helping on the farm and time spent on social media, the sisters also split time between working on their 70-acre pumpkin farm and their large agri-tourism business in the fall.

“It keeps us very busy,” Jojo notes.

The sisters encourage other farmers to share their stories through social media, especially TikTok.

“Document your days. It seriously helps our industry so much,” Evelyn says. “The more consumers trust their farmers, the better off we are. Tiktok has allowed us to connect with consumers and show them we are just normal people like them. It allows us to show how well our animals are cared for and combats those videos out there that paint the dairy industry in a negative light.”

Facility Focus: Lock-Up Time Could Lead to Lost Production

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 20:39:06 GMT

Headlocks could arguably be one of the most used tools on the farm. Whether they’re used for pregnancy checking, herd health days or A.I. breeding, headlocks come in handy for a multitude of reasons. But are our cows spending unnecessary time locked up? Researchers from Texas A&M University set out to determine how long is too long.

Lock-Up Time Adds Up

Cows only have so many hours in a day to complete their daily routines. According to Rick Grant of the Miner Institute, dairy cows will spend 3 to 5 hours a day eating, 12 to 14 hours lying or resting, 2 to 3 hours socializing and approximately 30 minutes drinking. That only leaves, 2.5 to 3.5 per day for milking and other herd management activities. While this might sound like a lot of time, it doesn’t take long for the minutes to add up. And unfortunately, time spent in headlocks will compete with the time for other behavioral needs.

During the study, the researchers observed an average lock-up time of approximately 1 to 4 hours per day. This time varied on pen size, stocking density and an animal’s position at the feed bunk.

It was determined that cows with longer lock-up periods experienced shorter lying times. The researchers concluded that excessive standing time could be associated with higher incidences of lameness, shorter time spent eating and more aggressive behavior.

Longer Lock-Ups = Lost Production

As time spent in headlocks increases, so do cortisol levels. In turn, this leads to heightened stress for the animal, which can negatively impact an animal’s health and productivity.

According to the researchers, prolonged cortisol has the potential to decrease overall milk yield, milk fat percentage and dry matter intake. Cows deprived of feeding and lying for more than 4 hours reduced milk yield by 4.4 lb. per day for 3 consecutive days.

To help prevent unnecessary stress, it’s important to minimize lock-up times whenever possible. This especially holds true for fresh cows, as these animals are the most in need of a stress-free environment to get them off to the best start. It’s also important to keep lock-up times at a minimum during the summer months. Locking up cows for extended periods without access to water or shade can have adverse effects during summer heat stress.

To help keep lock-up times to a minimum, consider following these tips:

Set a timer. As soon as animals are locked up, try setting a timer to see how long it takes for various management practices. This will help you determine your average lock-up time and adjust from there.
Let specific animals go. Instead of keeping an entire pen locked up, consider letting animals who no longer need attention go.
Time of day. Avoid the use of headlocks during late morning and afternoon hours during the summer months.
Talk with your vet. Take time to chat with your veterinarian on ways to maximize efficiency on herd health days.

Headlocks can be successfully used on a dairy. The limiting factor is how well they are managed. Work with your team to minimize lock-up times whenever possible.

For more Facility Focus coverage, read:

Can Somatic Cell Counts Get Too Low?

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 14:27:07 GMT

Somatic cell counts (SCC) have long been an indicator of milk quality and udder health. Additionally, processors are willing to pay a premium for milk with lower SCC levels . But can a cow’s SCC get too low? Amber Yutzy, assistant director of animal systems at Pennsylvania State University weighs in.

According to Yutzy, somatic cells are white blood cells that fight infection and repair tissue damage. When the udder is infected, white blood cells move to the udder and into the milk to defend against the invading bacteria. This process is very important; without it, the elimination of even mild cases of mastitis would be very slow, with tissue damage increased.

While lower SCC levels tend to spell higher profitability for dairy farmers, Yutzy notes that some producers fear that cows with significantly low SCC levels may have a compromised immune response to bacteria.

“Ideally, an individual cow cell count should be between 100,000 and 150,000, Yutzy states. “With a count below 50,000, there is some evidence that cows respond more slowly to infection.”

As farms continue to lower their bulk tank SCC below 100,000, they tend to increase the number of low cell count cows in their herd. However, cows with a lower immunity may have an increased risk of clinical mastitis. While the risk of mastitis is elevated, Yutzy does not seem concerned.

“The benefits of having a low SCC far outweigh the risks,” she says. “The answer is not to increase your SCC but to maximize immunity and keep cows in the best environment possible.”

Yutzy goes on to note that low SCC herds usually have low levels of contagious bacteria and limit the spread of that bacteria with good milking procedures and management practices. However, when these herds do get an infection, it is usually environmental. These organisms are opportunistic, not invasive, meaning most animals who get these infections are immune suppressed or stressed, such as dry cows or early lactation animals. Low SCC cows are not more susceptible to environmental organisms, but clinical signs tend to be more visible and grab the attention of producers.

Tips to Keep SCC Low

While individual cows with low SCC levels may have a suppressed immune system, it’s still important to focus on lowering your SCC score. According to the University of Minnesota, there are some simple and practical steps you can take to help lower SCC on your farm. These include:

Looking at individual cow reports - This can help you pinpoint problem cows and potentially make culling decisions.

Controlling contagious infections - Move infected cows to a different area of the barn or into a different pen. Keeping these cows separate is crucial to reducing the spread of contagious organisms.

Controlling environmental infections - Make sure milking equipment is kept clean and spray off any equipment that may get dirty during milking. Taking the time to make sure teats are fully clean will also make a huge difference in the presence of environmental organisms.

Additionally, add more bedding to stalls or packs and change bedding more often. It could be worth it to bed twice a day if you notice cows are getting wet and dirty.

Culturing your milk - Get a sample milk culture to determine what you’re really fighting. Start with a bulk tank culture to find out if the problem is environmental, contagious or something else. The results will narrow down the strategy you should use to combat the issue.

Take bulk tank samples on multiple test days to get the clearest picture of what you’re dealing with. Sometimes one organism can overwhelm the plate so much that other present organisms won’t even show up.
Look for consistent culture results to narrow down the problem.
Consider culturing some cows individually, especially those that consistently have high SCC or have new infections.

For more on milk quality, read:

A Recap of Dairy Markets Around the World

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:00:00 GMT

Alyssa Badger, director of global operations at HighGround Trading Group, recently joined AgriTalk host Chip Flory to share a full download of dairy markets around the world.

Diving into the international supply and demand picture, Badger explained that every country has its own set of issues that factor into the supply side of things and boldly stated that the southern hemisphere milk market is not in good shape.

According to Badger, the wet weather Australia has been getting has impacted their already ongoing feed issues and deteriorated pasture conditions. She says that a return to Australia’s milk production growth is incredibly distant.

“Their close neighbor, New Zealand is also struggling quite a bit, too,” she says.

New Zealand is down 4% in milk output from June to September. Badger shares this is alarming as it should be their spring peak season.

“That is a huge number because it’s on top of a negative prior year as well,” Badger shared.

Before the excessing weather, Australia was already experiencing a downturn, according to Badger.

“They’ve been having margin problems for a very, very long time. Milk prices weren’t great, just like the rest of the world was seeing really strong milk prices. And they weren’t. It’s just gotten way too expensive to be a dairy farmer in that country because of how reliant they are on the weather. And it’s not like the U.S. where we can just feed as much as we want. They have an image to sell just like New Zealand, that most of their cows are happy feeding on grass and it’s just not as possible as it used to use to be,” she said.

Badger told Flory that New Zealand’s dairy future doesn’t look promising for milk production. She shared that New Zealand’s producers are simply frustrated.

“There is a lot of frustration that the dairy farmers are getting targeted. And I completely understand only because they’ve been spending so much money to be compliant with every little change from the government,” she says.

Factor in increasing input costs and New Zealand dairy producers continue to grow more and more frustrated.

A Different Story in Argentina

The drought that Argentina has experienced has started to bite world conditions.

“There seem to be plenty of milk coming out of the region and farmers were concerned but now we’re really starting to see those issues coming into play and seeing some production hiccups being reported out of the region,” Badger says.

Like the rest of the world, Argentina producers are dealing with higher feed costs that have swallowed up the majority of the margins.

European Milk Market

The same tune of high feed prices, unfavorable weather and consumer pressures have negatively impacted the European milk market.

“Margins have been tight in Europe, especially Germany for many years,” Badger says. “And the Black Sea has just exasperated that situation and we’ve seen just a huge drop in cow numbers and a huge drop in milk production.”

Badger shares that last year’s numbers were bad, too, so they’re starting to see some year-over-year growth in that region. She says while it’s growth, it’s over a very negative prior year, so it’s important to keep that in perspective.

United States

While growth mode has returned to the U.S. and is likely to continue for the next several months, Badger says it is likely to moderate in the next six months.

To listen to the full AgriTalk segment with Alyssa Badger talks about dairy markets around the world, click on AgriTalk-PM-11-2-22-Alyssa Badger - AgriTalk PM - Omny.fm

There’s a New Mastitis-Causing Pathogen in Town: Prototheca Bovis

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 18:48:32 GMT

Prototheca bovis, a non-photosynthetic, yeast-like microalgae, is a mastitis-causing pathogen that has been around since the 1950s. However, it’s prevalence has significantly increased within the last five years, according to Angie Ulness, Senior Territory Manager at Parnell Veterinary Pharmaceuticals.

“Similar to Staph aureus and mycoplasma, Prototheca is hard to detect, has no known cure, and is contagious by intermittently shedding from cow to cow,” Ulness says. “[It] causes incurable acute or chronic mastitis., and there is no easy way to prevent Prototheca infections and no treatment for the mastitis.”

Unfortunately, early symptoms of Prototheca mastitis are hard to detect. According to Ulness, the pathogen thrives in high humidity and plentiful damp organic matter, a common denominator on most dairy operations. Additionally, infections typically develop over the course of several months, indicating its ability to survive or evade host immunity.

“What makes this type of mastitis so dangerous is that often times when a herd is infected, cows show mild signs of inflammation,” Ulness says. “Often times producers do not recognize infection has occurred until the quarter’s nearly dry. To add to the insult, positive cows continue to intermittently shed large numbers of the organism, transferring cow to cow at milking.”

While there is currently no known cure for this form of contagious mastitis, there are steps producers can take to help keep this new and emerging milk quality threat at bay. Ulness provides the following tips:

If you have had a steadily increasing bulk tank somatic cell count (SCC) over time and culture for forms of mastitis, consider also culturing for Prototheca. Identify potentially infected cows for culture that do not respond to antibiotic treatment and monitor SCC data from individual cows.
A producer-veterinarian relationship should be established to help determination of mastitis-causing agents.
Environmental sources should be investigated, gold standard milking procedures and hygiene be practiced, and when infusing the mammary gland wear gloves at dry off and at treatment, and the teats must be clean and dry, using a separate alcohol wipe for each teat before infusing the teat. Do not reuse teat cannulas or tubes and insert the teat cannula only partially into the teat canal.
Prototheca bovis mastitis has shown resistance to a wide variety of pharmacological products, including antibiotics. Because this mastitis is incurable, infected cows should clearly be identified and milked last in the milking order until they can be culled.

For more on milk quality, read:

Teat Dipping: The Core to Milk Quality

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 19:03:51 GMT

During the 1960’s researchers in the United Kingdom investigated and reported what became known as the first comprehensive plan to control mastitis. This mastitis control plan has been successful since being introduced and is based on the concept that the infection rate of mastitis is directly related to the number of bacteria present on teat skin when the unit is attached to a cow. Teat disinfection is the cornerstone of this mastitis control plan.

The primary function of any teat dip is to flush off the milk film that is left on the teats wherever they were exposed to vacuum during milking. Failure to flush off the milk film will result in a nearly perfect food for bacteria to grow on the teat skin before the cows are milked at the next milking. Once the milk film has been flushed off, the teat dip leaves a germicide on the skin of the teat to kill any present bacteria. Teat disinfection does not affect existing infections.

Complete Coverage

While it is commonly recommended to cover the teat end and bottom one-third of the teat barrel, this is inadequate. The teat should be completely covered with teat dip. Although teat dip can be sprayed onto teats with a teat sprayer, in most cases, the teat coverage will not be adequate and uses significantly more teat dip than proper dipping. The most common failure in most teat dipping/ spraying programs is not adequately covering teats with a good quality germicidal teat dip immediately after milking.

Because the role of teat dipping is to prevent bacteria colonization on the teat skin as well as the teat canal, it is critical to consistently and properly cover the entire area of the teat that had contact with the milking unit. Teat dip coverage should be monitored on a regular basis by observation of procedures within the parlor and observation of cows outside the parlor in the exit lanes when milk harvest technicians do not know they are being observed.

Proper Containers

The best dippers have a reservoir below the dip cup to carry the dip. The reservoir is squeezed and dip comes up to the top of the dipping cup. Dip does not fall back down into the lower reservoir to contaminate the teat dip with any organic material present on the teats. All teat dip containers and containers used to transport dip into the barn or parlor must be kept clean to avoid contamination.

The typical use rates for various application methods are as follows: spraying approximately 20 mL per cow; slosh cup 15 ml; non-return dipper 6 mL to 8 mL; foaming 4 mL to 6 mL; and a Thrifty Dipper 4 mL (when the brushes are properly maintained).

Another important routine observation is how teat dip is moved from storage containers to the parlor. I often see old containers that appear to be contaminated and many do not have valves, so they are open to the air in the parlor. Some dealers install gravity feed or pressurized systems to bring dip into the parlor to make refilling dip cups faster and with significantly reduced potential for contamination. The easier it is to perform a task, the more likely it will be performed correctly more often.

Periodic review of procedures and protocols for both pre- and post dipping programs and the coverage patterns of dip application are essential to the maintenance of acceptable udder health.

David A. Reid, DVM owns and operates Rocky Ridge Dairy Consulting, LLC based in Hazel Green Wisconsin. He has 44 years of experience as a practicing dairy veterinarian and dairy consultant.

Note: This story ran in the March 2018 magazine issue of Dairy Herd Management.

Milk Fat vs. Milk Yield: Which is More Profitable?

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 15:35:38 GMT

Butter prices have reached historic levels this year, pushing the value of component prices higher as well. As the monetary worth of milk fat grows, so does the pay price for the per hundredweight of milk. But what number is more important for a dairy farm’s income – milk fat percentage or milk yield? Donna Amaral-Philips, an extension dairy educator for the University of Kentucky, weighs in.

“Increasing or at least optimizing butterfat percent has a positive impact on pay price per hundredweight,” Amaral-Philips says. “However, to determine the best economic choice for one’s dairy, one needs to remember that one’s milk check is determined by a combination of the amount of skim milk and amount of butterfat marketed, not butterfat percentage alone. Thus, from an economic standpoint, optimizing both butterfat and yield are important.”

As butter prices climb, it’s easy to get caught up in the “I need to increase our components” mentality. However, sacrificing milk yield for higher milk fat and protein is no way to help pay the bills.

“Even with butterfat yields accounting for a greater percentage of the final milk price in 2022, milk yield still is the biggest driver of milk price,” Amaral-Philips says. “Using uniform skim and butterfat prices from August 2022, a cow giving 77 lbs. of milk at 4.0% butterfat generates approximately the same gross milk income compared to a cow that gives 75 lbs. of milk at 4.25% butterfat. This same relationship holds when butterfat differentials are lower as seen in 2020 and 2021.”

Dr. Mike Hutjens, Professor Emeritus with the University of Illinois, offers these tips to help improve butterfat while keeping milk yields in check:

“Review the fat level by lactation number and days in milk. You might discover weak links and future opportunities,” he says.

He adds that producers should also review their current feed rations for levels of NDF, lignin, starch, sugar, soluble fiber and forage quality based on NDFD.

Other tools producers should investigate include:

Bumping up volatile fatty acid production by:
- Increasing forage levels (50 to 55% forage)
- Increasing forage digestibility (higher NDFD)
- Increasing dry matter intake by providing more microbial substrate
- Avoiding sub-acute ruminal acidosis with a rumen pH over 5.8
- Adding rumen buffers and yeast products to help stabilize rumen environment

Increasing pre-formed fatty acids by:
- Adding lipids like fats and oils to the diet
- Mobilizing body fat as non-esterified fatty acids early in the lactation can increase milk fat. However, it borrows from the animal’s energy bank and has metabolic risks.

Selecting better genetics
- Select on pounds of milk fat, not for fat percent, as it lowers milk yield with fewer pounds of fat sold. Hutjens says this option is a two-year plan and not a quick fix to boost butterfat levels.

While higher butterfat and protein percentages can give a boost to the milk check, it’s important to not sacrifice yield to gain higher components.

“The take-home message here is, don’t chase butterfat percentage at the expense of milk yield,” Amaral-Philips states.