Learn practical tips, advice and ideas to milk smarter and manage mastitis. Hear from farmers who have made efficiency gains

Transcription

1 Learn practical tips, advice and ideas to milk smarter and manage mastitis Hear from farmers who have made efficiency gains

2 For more information visit dairynz.co.nz or phone DairyNZ ( ) DairyNZ Corner Ruakura and Morrinsville Roads Private Bag 32 Hamilton 3240 DairyNZ Limited 20 Disclaimer DairyNZ Limited ( DairyNZ, we, our ) endeavours to ensure that the information in this publication is accurate and current. However we do not accept liability for any error or omission. The information that appears in this publication is intended to provide the best possible dairy farm management practices, systems and advice that DairyNZ has access to. However, the information is provided as general guidance only and is not intended as a substitute for specific advice. Practices, systems and advice may vary depending on the circumstances applicable to your situation. The information may also be subject to change at any time without notice. DairyNZ takes no responsibility whatsoever for the currency and/or accuracy of this information, its completeness or fitness for purpose. DNZ-077

3 CONTENTS Introduction...2 Programme...3 Strategy session 1: Maximise milking efficiency, measure the success...4 Skills session 1: Skills for efficient milking...7 Strategy session 2: Building blocks of milking efficiency... Skills session 2: Cow flow the thermometer of the herd...15 Skills session 3: Essential skills to reduce mastitis and milking time... Actions for my farm...

4 INTRODUCTION Welcome to Milksmart in Action 20. The goal of Milksmart is to work smarter not harder. Our chosen metric for milking efficiency is: kilograms of milksolids harvested per hour worked. To maximise this number we need to focus on the number of cows milked per hour per person. And we need to achieve this in such a way as not to compromise stock, udder health or milker comfort, hence working smarter! Sessions today will cover how the different components of the milking process contribute to milking efficiency. PEOPLE - WORK ROUTINE - STOCKMANSHIP - MILKER COMFORT INFRASTRUCTURE - DAIRY DESIGN - PLANT SETTINGS - TECHNOLOGY ANIMAL - COW FLOW - UDDER HEALTH - COW COMFORT MILKING EFFICIENCY (KG MS/ HOUR WORKED) 2 Milksmart in action 20

5 PROGRAMME Start time REGISTRATION OPENS WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION STRATEGY SKILLS MAXIMISE MILKING EFFICIENCY, MEASURE THE SUCCESS SKILLS FOR EFFICIENT MILKING BUILDING BLOCKS OF MILKING EFFICIENCY COW FLOW THE THERMOMETER OF THE HERD ESSENTIAL SKILLS TO REDUCE MASTITIS AND MILKING TIME LUNCH HOST FARM PRESENTATION AND EFFICIENCY GAINS CONCLUSION Milksmart in action 20 3

6 STRATEGY SESSION 1 Maximise milking efficiency, measure the success Many of the approaches to improve milking efficiency also help to reduce stress for cows and milkers, and improve udder health and milk quality. Maximising milking efficiency does not need to come at the expense of animal health. This session provides simple ways to assess udder health so that any changes in milking efficiency can be monitored for their impact on cow health and comfort. This session covers: How to benchmark your mastitis situation and identify areas for improvement Signs that milking is efficient and not compromising animal health include: Bulk milk somatic cell count does not excessively increase after changes are made Clinical mastitis rates are below: 5- cases treated per 0 cows calved cases per 0 cows per month in lactation Why teat condition is important Healthy teats harbour less bacteria. It is a myth that teats need to be sprayed as soon as cups come off. Healthy teats can be achieved by applying teat spray including plus emollient to all surfaces of the teat before the cows leave the farm dairy. Both automatic and manual teat sprayers have advantages and disadvantages. The key is to monitor coverage and teat skin condition throughout the season. 4 Milksmart in action 20

7 How the milking machine affects milking efficiency and teat health Damaged teat ends harbour more bacteria. The milking machine uses vacuum to milk the cow, and pulsation to maintain teat health. Teat end damage can be the result of a complex interaction of vacuum, pulsation and liner movement, and over-milking. Settings that help cows to milk faster, such as increasing the pulsation ratio, usually expose the teat to more vacuum, so changes should be made in conjunction with steps to shorten milking times. Although removing cups early leaves some residual milk, this is harvested more efficiently at the next milking, which saves time and reduces the risk of teat end damage, and mastitis. The importance of monitoring teat health Teats with dry skin or teat end damage are early indicators of problems. Teat scoring 50 cows once a month is practical and achievable, to monitor progress as you make changes to milking efficiency. Seek expert help if more than % of cows have dry teat skin or 20% have rough teat ends. To access the information covered in this section, visit: dairynz.co.nz/milking dairynz.co.nz/mastitis Milksmart in action 20 5

8 NOTES 6 Milksmart in action 20

9 SKILLS SESSION 1 Skills for efficient milking To access the resources used in this session visit dairynz.co.nz/milking The module is divided into two categories: Core skills that apply to milking in any farm dairy type (green). How to integrate these skills together in either herringbone or rotary farm dairies to achieve an efficient milking (blue). Milksmart in action 20 7

10 The cups on category covers the 3 key things to think about before attaching the cups. Check udder cleanliness before attaching the cups. Look for signs of mastitis. Attach the cups. The cluster changing techniques category explains the key things to think about when changing clusters. There are three base methods: round the circle round the circle with a flip two at a time. The cups off section covers when and how to take the cups off. Aim for quarters to be milked evenly. Take the cups off by breaking the vacuum and gently twisting the cups while pulling. The efficient milking in a herringbone section shows how core skills learned in the other sections can be brought together. The most important point in a herringbone is to use the bunny hopping method. This is where cows are milked in batches. Milkers should row cows up in groups of 4-6 (depending on location of teat spray droppers), swing the clusters over and attach to the new cows, teat spray the 4-6 cows that have just had their cups removed, then repeat with the next batch. In many cases the next group of cows will have already loaded. Where there are two milkers in the pit, the first milker should start at cluster 1, and the second milker should start at cow 5-7, depending on group size. The second milker should not start at half way or the back of the pit. The head gate should be released as soon as possible, so the last cows in the row are having their clusters removed and teat sprayed just as they are starting to walk out. Find out more at dairynz.co.nz/herringbone-routine Milksmart in action 20

11 The efficient milking in a rotary section shows how core skills learned in the other sections can be brought together. The most important point in a rotary is to set a platform speed that is as fast as you can comfortably attach cups. The most efficient platform speed is when 15-20% of cows are going around on a second rotation. This speed means the majority of the herd finishes closer to the rotary exit. The sum of the time saved by these cows finishing closer to the exit is greater than the time the goaround cows occupy bails. The platform should be kept moving at all times, do not stop or slow to fill empty bails. This is demonstrated in the animation comparing a min rotation with an min rotation. Find out more at dairynz.co.nz/rotation-time Milksmart in action 20

12 NOTES Milksmart in action 20

13 STRATEGY SESSION 2 Building blocks of milking efficiency To access the information covered in this section, including videos and animations, visit dairynz.co.nz/herringbone or dairynz.co.nz/rotary. What determines your milking efficiency Milking efficiency is determined by: Number of clusters Milking duration of cows Speed of milking routine Option to hang up clusters in a herringbone but otherwise difficult to change Simple options to save time - the focus of this presentation Options to reduce milking duration of cows There are a range of cow milking durations within your herd. Cow milking duration is influenced by milk yield, which in turn is influenced by milking interval (e.g. /, /, /, 24) and stage of lactation. Range of cow milking duration 35% 30% Frequency 25% 20% 15% 5% 0% Aim to shorten Milking duration (min) Milksmart in action 20

14 The maximum milking time (MaxT) strategy aims to shorten the milking duration of the slowest milking cows. Removing the cups early on these slow milking cows leaves some residual milk that is harvested more efficiently at the next milking. This means no lost production or increase in mastitis. For those with automatic cluster removers (ACRs), some models can apply a maximum time, alternatively, the flow rate threshold setting can be adjusted on most ACR models. Many ACRs have been installed with a flow rate threshold of 0.2 kg/min. This can be increased to 0.4 kg/min. Some models of ACR use a different measure. Contact your plant supplier for information on how your ACR determines the end of milking and how to change these settings. To benefit from increasing flow rate settings, platform speed should also be increased. Typically, the pulsation ratio in most dairies is set at 60:40. Because we are now reducing the cups on time by applying MaxT or increasing the ACR threshold the pulsation ratio can be increased to 65:35 or 70:30. Milking speed can be further increased through liner selection. Ideally, you want liners that hold on well on front quarters and fast milking liners on back quarters. Test out a few out before buying. Options to improve your work routine There were 5 parts covered in this section that influence the overall speed of milking: bunny hopping and early head gate release in herringbones platform speed in rotary dairies cupping speed infrastructure/cow flow use of technology See page 7, Skills for efficient milking for more information and explanation. Train your team using the online module. Milksmart in action 20

15 Infrastructure There are a few simple things that you can do to improve cow flow in your dairy. Herringbone Rotary Have a lead-in bar D-gate opens forward 30 Correct breast rail height Head gate and backing gate control from anywhere in the pit 3 warnings to back cows off Bands to hold tubes together Mirrors so milkers can see what is happening in the yard Automatic stop for the backing gate Use of technology Technology that automates some of the milking-related tasks can be used to make milking more efficient. When evaluating technology, consider what human-performed task it removes from the milking routine - the business case may differ between herringbones and rotaries. For example, ACRs and an automatic teat sprayer enable the removal of the cows off operator in a rotary. ACRs in a herringbone prevent overmilking, but do not provide much labour-saving benefit compared to an effective routine using MaxT. On the other hand, an automatic teat sprayer on the exit can eliminate a task from the milking routine, and minimises walking in the pit. Milksmart in action 20 13

16 NOTES Milksmart in action 20

17 SKILLS SESSION 2 Cow flow the thermometer of the herd Good cow flow is vital and at the heart of achieving efficient milkings. As a bonus, steady, quiet movement of cows through the milking process reduces time in the shed, stock and human stress, and the risk of cows withholding their milk or becoming lame. This session provides practical tips and insights into a cow s senses, to encourage good cow flow throughout the milking process, with minimal stress for cow and milker. Topics covered include: How to measure good cow flow The expert on cow flow, Neil Chesterton, has observed that sheds that have good cow flow achieve the following at peak: That rounds or rows of cows should take no longer than 1.5h to milk. This is a great starting point and can be improved upon by using efficient routines and strategies (see the sessions on milking skills and building blocks of milking efficiency). It is a rule that can apply equally to the 200 cow herd milked through a 20 bail herringbone, or to the 500 cow herd, milked on a 50 bail rotary. It doesn t include the time taken to walk cows to and from the farm dairy. Understanding cows and why they do what they do Cows receive information through their senses, just as we do. But being a prey animal, they process this information differently. Knowing this helps us work out why a cow does what she does. Milksmart in action 20 15

18 Working with cows to get the best outcomes for us and them Understanding what is important for a cow helps us to work with them, rather than against them. Giving cows time to find their feet when walking up the race or stepping onto the yard are two such examples. Infrastructure and routines that encourage steady cow flow. Cows moving steadily and quietly through the farm dairy are a pleasure to milk. Identifying the obstacles that stop them from doing this will help improve cow flow. In particular, look for places where cows can hurt themselves (e.g. shiny steel work). So what does cow flow tell you about the temperature in your farm dairy? Are cows and people operating cool and calm, or hot and flustered? To access the information covered in this section, visit: dairynz.co.nz/milking dairynz.co.nz/dairystockmanship Milksmart in action 20

19 NOTES Milksmart in action 20 17

20 SKILLS SESSION 3 Essential skills to reduce mastitis and milking time Learn practical tips, advice and ideas to milk smarter and minimise mastitis. Maximising milking efficiency need not compromise animal health. In fact, many of the approaches to improve milking efficiency help to improve udder health and milk quality. This session will help you gain the confidence to implement the milking techniques at the heart of efficient milking, and grow your skills to prevent, find and treat mastitis. This session covers: Mastitis bugs and why healthy teats are important The bacteria that cause mastitis come from the environment or are spread from other cows via the milking cups. Teat spray is a critical step in mastitis control to kill bacteria and maintain good healthy teats, which removes places for bacteria to grow. When teat spraying, ensure teat spray covers all teat surfaces, as well as the tip, and uses ml per cow per application. Assessing teat condition Teats with dry skin or teat end damage are early indicators of problems. Teat scoring 50 cows once a month is practical and achievable, to monitor progress as you make changes to improve milking efficiency. Seek expert help if more than % of cows have dry teat skin or 20% have rough teat ends. Cups off Damaged teat ends harbour more bacteria. Removing cups early leaves some residual milk, which is harvested more efficiently at the next milking, with less risk of teat end damage and no increase in mastitis. So it s OK to remove cups in the dribble phase and save time spent waiting for slow milking cows. Apply cup removal techniques that reduce risk of mastitis e.g. break, twist and release, close to cluster. Milksmart in action 20

21 Disinfect teats when treating cows Teats must be disinfected before any intramammary treatment. If you are using teat wipes, open the wipe out and scrub the teat from underneath using your thumb and moving across the wipe to a progressively cleaner area until the wipe comes away clean. Multiple wipes per teat may be needed. Signs that milking is operating efficiently include: 1. Time spent waiting for slow cows to finish milking is minimised. 2. Cups are being removed using techniques that reduce risk of mastitis. 3. Teat spray is applied effectively and efficiently. To access the information covered in this section, visit: dairynz.co.nz/milking dairynz.co.nz/mastitis Milksmart in action 20 1

22 NOTES 20 Milksmart in action 20

23 Actions for my farm Things I will investigate or trial to improve milking efficiency on my farm: Milksmart in action 20

24 HERRINGBONE EFFICIENCY The expected number of cows milked per hour for various row time/herringbone size combinations are shown in the table below. The amount of time available for milkers to perform their work routine (e.g. attaching/ removing clusters, teat spraying, loading row etc) is also shown. This number should be multiplied by the planned number of milkers in the pit to calculate the amount of time each milker will have available to achieve that row time. Go to to test a specific scenario. Number of clusters Row time in minutes Milksmart in action 20

25 Milksmart in action cows/hour seconds/cow cows/hour seconds/cow cows/hour seconds/cow cows/hour seconds/cow cows/hour seconds/cow cows/hour seconds/cow cows/hour seconds/cow cows/hour seconds/cow cows/hour seconds/cow

26 ROTARY EFFICIENCY The expected number of cows milked per hour for various rotation time/rotary size combinations are shown in the table below. Note these figures assume no empty bails but make allowances for cows going-around on a second rotation. The number of goaround cows was estimated for this table using a milk yield of L/cow (i.e. equivalent to the morning milking for a herd averaging 20 L/cow/day). 30 Bail 34 Bail 40 Bail 44 Bail 50 Bail 54 Bail 60 Bail Rotation time in minutes Milksmart in action 20

27 Go to to estimate a different milk volume. The amount of time available for a cow to walk on to the rotating platform is also shown. The milker can have more time available to attach clusters as not every cow in a rotation needs their clusters attached (because cows can be going-around on a second rotation). 64 Bail 70 Bail 0 Bail cows/hour 2. seconds for cow to load 3. seconds for milker to attach cluster cows/hour 2. seconds for cow to load 3. seconds for milker to attach cluster cows/hour 2. seconds for cow to load 3. seconds for milker to attach cluster cows/hour 2. seconds for cow to load 3. seconds for milker to attach cluster cows/hour 2. seconds for cow to load 3. seconds for milker to attach cluster cows/hour 2. seconds for cow to load 3. seconds for milker to attach cluster cows/hour 2. seconds for cow to load 3. seconds for milker to attach cluster cows/hour 2. seconds for cow to load 3. seconds for milker to attach cluster cows/hour 2. seconds for cow to load 3. seconds for milker to attach cluster Milksmart in action 20 25

28 26 Milksmart in action 20 dairynz.co.nz