The somatic cell count (SCC) in milk is a crucial indicator of udder health and quality. In the U.S., the allowable SCC level for milk sold is 750,000 cells/mL. Still, on an individual cow level, an SCC greater than 200,000 cells/mL indicates an infection, such as clinical or subclinical mastitis. While not harmful to humans, a high SCC can reduce the milk's processability and shorten its shelf life.
Bimodal milking is one of the issues that can lead to increased SCC. It occurs when milk flow starts with an increase, then a decrease, and then another increase. This problem is primarily due to improper udder preparation before milking, particularly incorrect timing between udder stimulation and the start of milking.
Over 80% of the milk in a cow's udder is stored in alveolar tissues, with only 20% in cisternal areas. For smooth and continuous milk flow, milk from the alveolar tissues must move to the cisternal compartments before milking begins. The preparatory lag time between udder stimulation (such as pre-dipping, and wiping) and attaching the milking unit should be between 60 to 120 seconds. Deviating from this interval can delay milk ejection, resulting in a bimodal milking pattern.
Key risk factors for Bimodal Milking:
- Improper milking protocols: inconsistent steps in udder preparation and milking unit attachment can lead to issues.
- Incorrect timing of milking unit attachment: attaching the unit too early or too late can result in incomplete udder emptying and bimodal milk flow.
- Inadequate udder stimulation: poor or insufficient stimulation before milking can cause delayed milk ejection.
- Suboptimal housing conditions: dirty and wet bedding, inadequate maintenance, and infrequent replacement can lead to mastitis and higher SCC.
- Improper pre- and post-dipping procedures: using inappropriate disinfectants or applying them incorrectly increases the risk of udder health issues.
- Heat stress: lack of water, ventilation, and shade during hot periods can cause stress in cows, negatively affecting milk letdown.
- Poor fly control: flies can add stress to cows, hindering normal milk flow.
Managing these factors and adhering to proper milking protocols are vital for preventing bimodal milking and ensuring high milk quality and cow health. Regular evaluation of milking procedures and animal housing conditions allows for timely identification and resolution of potential issues, ensuring consistent production of high-quality milk.
Cattle Care keeps track of all the important times in the milking process, including Loading time, Bacteria kill time, stimulation time, prep lag, order of attach, attach time, milking time, and turn time. This allows the farmer to check and improve each step of the milking process.
We also provides individual cards for each employee. These show how well the employees are following the milking protocol, how good they are at pre-dipping and post-dipping the cows, and other issues. This helps the farmer optimize the work in the milking parlor and increase the efficiency and milk quality.
Cattle Care tracks all the important details of the milking process and gives the farmer information to improve the process and the work of the employees. Our advanced monitoring solutions help dairy farms optimize their milking parlors for smooth and efficient operations. By addressing concerns, our tools and expert guidance lead to improved productivity and healthier herds.
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