Dairy producers and their milkers can learn the essentials of quality milk production at the upcoming Best Milking Practices workshops to be presented by Penn State Dairy Alliance. Use of consistent milking practices that emphasize teat cleanliness, udder massage and rapid milking is one of the most important jobs on a dairy farm. Consistency of milking affects cow well-being, mastitis risk and milking speed. Consistent use of standardized milking practices such as pre-dipping, fore-stripping, drying teats with a single-use towel, unit alignment, and rapid unit attaching and detaching at the right time are essential for quality milk.
The Best Milking Practices workshop will reinforce best practices, including proper stimulation and the essentials of milk let-down. Graphing equipment will be used to demonstrate impact of prepping on milk let-down. Participants will learn new research on milk let-down, how to milk for speed and teat health, best prepping procedure to reduce mastitis, and tools and tips for monitoring milking performance. A portion of each workshop will be held on-farm to demonstrate these best practices.
Workshop instructors will include Penn State Extension educators Amber Yutzy, Greg Strait, and Gene Schurman. Each one-day workshop will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on these dates, at the following sites:
• Indiana County: Feb. 24 at Hoss’s Steak and Sea House, 1198 Wayne Ave., Indiana, Pennsylvania
• Clinton County: March 1 at Clinton County Cooperative Extension Learning Center, 47 Cooperation Lane, Mill Hall, Pennsylvania
• Fulton County: March 3 at McConnellsburg Lutheran Parish, 220 N. Third St., McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania
Advance registration is required. A registration discount of 50 percent is available to Pennsylvania dairy producers and their employees, who may attend for $15 per person, thanks to a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. The fee is $30 for consultants and non-Pennsylvania dairy producers and dairy employees. To register online with your credit card, click here. To register by phone, or for more information, call (888) 373-7232. Because a portion of this workshop will be held on-farm, participants must bring footwear that can be sanitized for biosecurity reasons, as well as warm and clean clothing. Plastic boots for additional protection on-farm will be provided.
This workshop qualifies for 1 SmartStart credit through AgChoice Farm Credit. PD
—From Dairy Alliance news release
