Ensuring High Milk Quality as the Housing Season Approaches

dairy farming milk productivity

As the housing period for cows draws near and lactation comes to a close, maintaining high milk quality is crucial. As production begins to wane, it’s essential to prioritise quality to maximise milk cheque bonuses and secure favourable pricing. Continue reading to learn more about how you can increase your dairy herds productivity whilst using the Herdwatch App.

Nutritional Needs

At this stage, cows should be receiving about 16/17 kg of dry matter (DM) daily. Achieving this through grass and meal alone can be challenging, so incorporating high-quality silage is advisable to boost solids and maintain cow condition.

Monitoring and Control

Controlling somatic cell counts (SCC) is vital, as higher SCC can indicate increased infection levels. Constant monitoring is key to ensuring herd health and milk quality. Additionally, issues such as a rise in total bacterial count (TBC) often stem from milking routine shortcomings, like improper machine washing or hygiene lapses during milking.

Preventative Measures

According to Teagasc, high TBC or thermoduric can often be traced back to inadequate detergent levels in washing systems. Regular checks of these systems are essential to avoid complications.

Farmers should also plan their final milk recording of the year and prepare for drying off. Cows with a history of mastitis or consistently high SCC should receive antibiotics at drying off, while healthy cows with low SCC can be treated with a sealant.

Monitoring SCC is critical, as a sudden spike can indicate underlying issues that shouldn’t be ignored. Stripping cows before milking can help identify problems early, preventing potential financial losses.

Milk Recording

How can Herdwatch help?

During the critical housing period, the Herdwatch app can significantly assist farmers by streamlining herd management and enhancing your records on milk quality. With features that allow farmers to easily record and monitor drying-off dates, the ability to view somatic cell counts, and overall milk production, the app provides a comprehensive overview of your dairy herd health from the palm of your hand. This enables farmers to make informed decisions about selective dry cow therapy and antibiotic use, ensuring optimal care for each animal. To read updated regulations on dry cow therapy Click Here

dairy herd milking

Recording a Dry Off in Herdwatch

Medicinal Dry-Off with Tubes/Sealer

Build Your Medicine Cabinet:

  1. Navigate to the home screen and select ‘Remedy/Medicine Purchase.’
  2. Choose from the list, use the search bar, or scan the medicine to add it to your cabinet.
  3. Enter details such as Date of Purchase, Unit of Measure, Quantity Purchased, Supplier, and Treatment Reason.
  4. Select ‘Save’ to add the tube/sealer to your cabinet.

Apply to Animals:

  1. On the home screen, select ‘Cattle Treatment.’
  2. Choose ‘From Remedy Cabinet.’
  3. Select the tube/sealer from the cabinet.
  4. Enter Date Administered, Administered by, and dose details.
  5. Ensure Treatment Reason is selected as Dry Off and choose the Dry Off Treatment Type.
  6. This triggers information to go to ICBF; the treatment reason appears overnight, and the treatment type is updated on the first Monday of every month.
  7. Select the animals and ‘Save.’

Natural Dry-Off

  1. On the home screen, tap the orange plus button (+).
  2. Scroll or search for ‘Dry Off (Natural).’
  3. Enter the date and select the animals.
  4. Select ‘Save.’

Dry-Off Alerts

Set Watch board Alerts to ensure timely dry-offs.

  • 60 days before Calving for Cows.
  • 80 Days Pre-Calving for Heifers.
MILK RECORDING

Cows Not Dry Smart list

Utilise the “Cows Not Dry” Smart list to identify breeding females without a recorded dry-off. This list offers valuable insights into cows that haven’t been dried yet and indicates the number of days from calving. No alerts are triggered; it’s a straightforward list for proactive management.

With Herdwatch, recording dry-offs becomes a streamlined process, ensuring the health and productivity of your dairy herd. Whether employing medicinal methods with tubes/sealers or opting for a natural dry-off, Herdwatch provides an intuitive platform for meticulous record-keeping. Take advantage of Watch board Alerts and Smart lists to stay ahead of dry-off schedules and make informed decisions for the well-being of your herd. Embrace the efficiency and precision offered by Herdwatch in managing this critical aspect of dairy farming.

Join over 22,000 people using the Herdwatch App ahead of the busy winter months to come and be prepared!