Employees said they wanted more communication regarding work performance as well as training to do daily tasks.
The study reinforces the idea managers are underestimating the amount of communication employees need and want. SOPs reduce employee frustrations both from not knowing exactly what is expected of them and the variation among employees in how tasks are completed.
Well-written SOPs accomplish two important objectives. First, employees are more likely to experience job satisfaction, making them more likely to do their jobs well. Second, animal health, welfare and performance are improved, thus improving the overall success of the operation.
SOPs also help dairies meet the requirements of the National Dairy FARM Program. Ninety-eight percent of the U.S. milk supply comes from dairy farms that participate in this program. Quoting directly from the FARM manual: “The FARM Program raises the bar for the entire industry – creating a culture of continuous improvement.” Making sure SOPs are kept up-to-date not only is necessary to meet the requirements of FARM but also demonstrates commitment to the spirit of the FARM Program.
Getting started made easier
In my experience, the most difficult part of any writing assignment is getting started. I am not a procrastinator, but I’ll admit it is very easy to procrastinate when it comes to writing. Similarly, I suspect many dairy managers find it easy to say to themselves, “Yes, I realize that protocol needs to be written; I’ll try to get to that tomorrow.”
The Dairy Care365 customizable SOPs were developed with this obstacle in mind. The templates provide a starting point and a framework for drafting SOPs. Various topics such as newborn care, calf and heifer handling, stockmanship, handling non-ambulatory cows and humane euthanasia, just to name a few, are available.
Work with your veterinarian when drafting and updating SOPs. They know your operation – what can work on your dairy with your management style and your employees. They also know what works on other farms and can discuss whether it might work on your farm.
Don’t underestimate the power of SOPs
Employees are not mind readers and, for many, this is their first experience in production agriculture. Therefore, it is important to have detailed SOPs. Including the step-by-step instructions for completing on-farm tasks is useful when training new employees and provides a backup when employees are called in to do another’s task.
Employees who understand the operation’s SOPs, including the safety and productivity reasons behind them, will be more engaged and motivated to meet the quality, production and profitability goals of the dairy operation. SOPs can also be used to provide performance feedback, which helps employees understand expectations.
When you update your SOPs, consider involving employees in the process. Ask if all the tasks are included and if they understand how to complete the various tasks. Ask them if there is anything missing. Engaging employees in this manner gives them a sense of being invested with the farm. Reviewing SOPs with employees also reduces variation in how a task is performed, which is especially critical since dairy cattle are creatures of habit, and inconsistency impacts productivity and profitability.
Try, whenever possible, to use positive language when writing SOPs. It is human nature to react negatively to the words “can’t” and “don’t.” By avoiding negative words to explain tasks, you provide employees with positive reinforcement from the start. Keep in mind everyone learns differently.
While some people need each step to be written out, others are visual learners. Consider including videos in your training program to reinforce the importance of the protocols and help capture the variety of learning styles present among your employees. In addition, it may be wise to present the training information and SOPs in both English and Spanish to help with language barriers.
Preparing for the unexpected
For example, a farm we work with near Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, is close to a small airport. Not long ago, a plane crashed on their farm, killing the pilot and severely injuring two of their employees. The airplane damaged the calf barn, and several animals were killed.
The owners of the dairy had a protocol in place to handle an unexpected disaster. Step by step, they navigated unforeseen situations, like emergency vehicles and news reporters. Regardless of the cause of the accident, they were very thankful they had a written protocol, as it expedited and facilitated the actions they needed to take on an emotion-filled day.
Not only in the current dairy economic climate, but indeed in any dairy economic climate, dairy managers should always be looking for opportunities to increase production while minimizing the cost to achieve it. Developing, updating and improving standard operating procedures requires minimal to no cash outlay. Notwithstanding that SOP maintenance may not be a favorite task on dairy farms, SOP maintenance should be scheduled just like parlor maintenance, fresh cow monitoring and pregnancy testing.
Well-written SOPs are critical tools for maintaining and improving animal health, welfare and performance, and ultimately, dairy farm profitability. Your employees will thank you as well. 
References omitted but are available upon request. Click here to email an editor.
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Lowell Midla
- Technical Services Manager
- Merck Animal Health
- Email Lowell Midla
