Adopting good milking practices is part of the routine of producers who value healthy animals and residue-free milk. This is because the quality of the milk is directly linked to hygiene throughout the milking process and consequently affects the profitability of the farm.

In this article, we have separated 15 milking practices to improve milk quality in 2021, considering that carelessness with hygiene can increase the chances of contamination and compromise the entire production.

Follow this step by step and guarantee high quality milk:

CARE BEFORE MILKING

1 – Lead the herd: Lead the herd to the milking parlor, calmly and with good care.

2 – Separate the lots: Place, in the 1st lot, healthy, young, more productive cows; in the 2nd batch, cows that had some type of problem in the past; and, in the 3rd, cows with some type of problem.

3 – Wash your hands: Use soap and water to eliminate dirt from your hands, fingers and nails.

4 – Carry out test: Milk three jets from each teat into a disposal jar. This allows you to identify possible clots or abnormalities in the milk.

5 – Monitor udder health: Perform the CMT test (California Mastitis Test) to detect possible cases of mastitis.

6 – Clean the teats: Wash the teats individually, preferably with warm water.

7 – Pre-dipping: To disinfect the teats, dip 100% of the teat in detergent and let the product act for 30 seconds.

8 – Dry the teats: Use disposable paper towel sheets to dry the teats. Do not reuse sheets or cloths.

GOOD PRACTICES DURING MILKING

9 – Check the vacuum level: Check that the vacuum level is correct and constant.

10 – Milking the cow: Place the milking set avoiding air entry. Pay attention to the position of the hoses.

11 – Avoid overmilking: Overmilking can lead to the development of mastitis.

12 – Remove the assembly: Close the vacuum valve and remove the milking assembly correctly.

AFTER MILKING

13 – Post-dipping: Immerse 70% of the ceiling in a disinfectant.

14 – Clean the equipment: Clean the equipment internally and externally, after each milking.

15 – Store and cool the milk: Store and cool the milk, following regulations IN76 and IN77.

By adopting these 15 good practices, you will guarantee the quality of milk on the farm, promote animal health and increase your profitability. If you have questions about any stage of the milking process, get in touch and talk to one of our technicians.