The Milk Producer - August 2009 - (Page 32)

APPLIEDSCIENCE Herman W. Barkema, Sarne De Vliegher, Julie Baillargeon, and Ruth N. Zadoks Step by step Here is what you can expect when you bring in outside expertise to help solve high SCC issues (Second of Two Parts) fter you read part one of this article in the July issue of The Milk Producer, you rolled up your sleeves, called your veterinarian and started working on defining the problem of high somatic cell counts (SCC) in your herd. Once this is done, you need to organize a herd visit with your vet. If you farm in Ontario, you can also make an appointment with an Udder Health Management Program specialist. The program, operated by Dairy Farmers of Ontario, has been helping milk producers solve problems and meet SCC standards since 1982. “Vets often request our program input in problem solving,” says Mark McDougall, who supervises the program. A herd visit consists of a farm tour, observation of milking practices and sitting down together. It is essential the herd owner, herdspersons and the vet are involved in all three elements. This ensures buy-in and implementation of needed changes. Often, other people have already been involved and some strategies have already been implemented to remedy the problem. An inventory of what has been done by whom, and what effect this has had, is important. If it is clear the milking machine or nutrition may play a role, the concerned experts should be involved. A collection forms can be used to ensure no points are overlooked. Milking observation Before milking starts, the milking parlour is observed and the milking machine is examined for such items as type, cleanliness and automatic take-offs. Questions include frequency of milking machine servicing. Often the tractor or new truck gets more maintenance than the milking machine. During milking, these items are monitored: actual milking practices and milking hygiene; general impression of the functioning of the milking machine; behaviour of the cows during milking. Important points to pay attention to during milking are: • Does the milking routine consist of udder stimulation, pre-stripping, premilking teat disinfection, a 60- to 90second interval between udder stimu- Follow-up visits will help ensure your udder health program is on track to achieve success. Farm tour Even if your vet visits your farm regularly in a herd health program, a farm tour focusing on udder health risk factors is necessary. Existing data 32 | August 2009 | MilkPRODUCER

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - August 2009

The Milk Producer - August 2009
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Dairy Update
Industry Roundup
DFC Promotion
Our Readers Have Spoken
Issues Update
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Markets
New 'n' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - August 2009