{"id":19904,"date":"2026-05-20T14:04:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T14:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/herdwatch.com\/en-uk\/?p=19904"},"modified":"2026-05-22T11:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T11:44:13","slug":"milking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/herdwatch.com\/en-uk\/blog\/milking\/","title":{"rendered":"Milk Recording"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the housing period draws near and lactation comes to a close, milk recording becomes one of the most valuable tools on the farm. With production beginning to wane, prioritising quality is key to maximising milk cheque bonuses and securing favourable pricing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news is that the right information &#8211; milk records, EBI, Eurostars, and SCC trends &#8211; is now available right on your phone, giving you everything you need to make informed decisions through the busy winter months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Milk Recording Matters More at Housing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A consistent milk recording service is the foundation of good herd management. Each round of milk samples gives you the data you need on yield, SCC, milk solids, lactose levels and protein &#8211; building a picture of every cow&#8217;s contribution to overall herd performance. Without that data, decisions about dry cow therapy, culling and dairy replacements come down to guesswork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Routine milk testing through your local milk recorder service (or via a national milk testing system like CIS in the UK) flags problem animals early &#8211; the cows with creeping SCC, dropping solids, or signs of subclinical mastitis you&#8217;d otherwise miss. Pair that with farm-level recording and you&#8217;ve got a complete view of herd performance, not just snapshots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nutritional Needs at Housing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At this stage, cows should be receiving around 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 heading into the dry period. Good nutrition late in lactation also protects milk solids and lactose levels, both of which feed directly into your milk cheque.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So how much milk does a cow produce in late lactation? Yields vary widely depending on breed, parity, days in milk and management, but in late lactation most UK herds will see daily yields drop noticeably as cows are dried off in preparation for calving. The real question isn&#8217;t just total volume &#8211; it&#8217;s the quality and composition behind it. Late-lactation milk tends to have higher solids, which is exactly why nutrition, milk testing and SCC management matter so much in the final weeks before drying off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Monitoring and Controlling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SCC Controlling Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) is vital, as higher SCC can indicate increased infection levels in the herd. Constant monitoring through routine milk testing is key to ensuring herd health and milk quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A sudden spike in SCC can point to underlying issues that shouldn&#8217;t be ignored &#8211; often the early warning sign of clinical mastitis before it shows visually at the parlour. Stripping cows before milking can help identify problems early, preventing potential financial losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Issues like a rise in Total Bacterial Count (TBC) often stem from milking routine shortcomings &#8211; improper machine washing, hygiene lapses during milking, or inadequate detergent levels in the washing system. Regular checks of these systems are essential to avoid complications later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s the easiest way to keep on top of milk records and SCC? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trying to manage SCC trends, yields, and treatment histories on paper is where most dairy farms come unstuck. A proper milk management software setup pulls everything into one place &#8211; and with Herdwatch&#8217;s live link to CIS milk recording and ICBF, your milk recording data flows straight into the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No re-entering data, no chasing paperwork, just an up-to-date picture of every cow when you need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You make better farm decisions when you have better information &#8211; and that&#8217;s exactly what Herdwatch is built for. Through a live link with ICBF, any information on your ICBF account flows seamlessly into your Herdwatch app: milk records, EBI information, Eurostars, past breeding records, AI technician serves and freeze brands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This integration has long been a feature on Irish dairy farms, and UK farmers using CIS get the same benefit through Herdwatch&#8217;s milk testing system integration. No duplicate recording, more accurate data, and far less time spent at the kitchen table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For dairy farmers, this means you can see your herd milk data on your phone whenever you need it. Armed with that information, you can quickly identify which cows might need to be culled because their milk yield is too low or their SCC is too high, and which heifers are shaping up to be your best dairy replacements. It also makes selective dry cow therapy decisions far easier when you can see each cow&#8217;s clinical mastitis history and SCC trend in seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suckler farmers benefit too &#8211; you can see what stars each animal is just by looking at your phone, including which cows or heifers are 5 Stars, their replacement value, and when that information was last updated. Combined with mart prices and weights (downloaded automatically when the mart uploads them), you get accurate reports on what animals are leaving you the most money and which cows produce the best calves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which are the best cow breeds for milk on a UK dairy farm? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That depends on your system. Holstein Friesians remain the most popular choice on UK dairy farms for sheer volume, while Jersey and Jersey crosses are favoured by farms targeting higher milk solids and stronger fertility &#8211; particularly in grass-based systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">British Friesians and Norwegian Reds also have strong followings for their balance of yield, longevity and health traits. The common thread is that the best-performing herds, regardless of breed, are the ones using milk recording and EBI data to make breeding and dairy replacement decisions &#8211; rather than guessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Planning the Final Milk Recording and Drying Off <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Farmers should plan their final milk recording of the year carefully and prepare for drying off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cows with a history of clinical mastitis or consistently high SCC should receive antibiotics at drying off, while healthy cows with low SCC can be treated with a sealant. Having the full milk recording, milk samples and SCC history visible on your phone makes these cow-by-cow decisions far more straightforward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When should I be milking dry, and how do I keep track of it? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A typical dry period runs around 60 days before calving for cows and 80 days for heifers &#8211; long enough for the udder to regenerate, but not so long that it impacts body condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tricky part is keeping track across a full herd. Watchboard alerts in Herdwatch flag dry-off timing automatically based on calving dates, and the &#8220;Cows Not Dry&#8221; Smart List shows you any breeding females without a recorded dry-off, so nothing slips through the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recording a Dry Off in Herdwatch Medicinal Dry-Off with Tubes or Sealer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Build your medicine cabinet first:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Navigate to the home screen and select &#8220;Remedy\/Medicine Purchase&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose from the list, use the search bar, or scan the medicine to add it to your cabinet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enter Date of Purchase, Unit of Measure, Quantity Purchased, Supplier, and Treatment Reason<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select &#8220;Save&#8221; to add the tube or sealer to your cabinet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Then apply to animals:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On the home screen, select &#8220;Cattle Treatment&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose &#8220;From Remedy Cabinet&#8221; and select the tube or sealer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enter Date Administered, Administered by, and dose details<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure Treatment Reason is set to Dry Off and choose the Dry Off Treatment Type<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select the animals and &#8220;Save&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Natural Dry-Off<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On the home screen, tap the orange plus button (+)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scroll or search for &#8220;Dry Off (Natural)&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enter the date and select the animals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select &#8220;Save&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dry-Off Alerts and Smart Lists Set Watchboard Alerts to ensure timely dry-offs:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>60 days before calving for cows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>80 days pre-calving for heifers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The &#8220;Cows Not Dry&#8221; Smart List is also a handy tool &#8211; it identifies breeding females without a recorded dry-off and shows the number of days from calving, giving you a straightforward overview for proactive management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is dairy milk management software actually worth it for a smaller herd? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes &#8211; and arguably more so. Smaller herds often run with less in the way of automated parlour technology, which makes a good milk software setup even more valuable for tracking SCC, milk records and dry-off decisions. The Herdwatch Free Plan lets you try it without committing, and most farmers find the time saved on paperwork alone makes it worthwhile within the first few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Try the App for Yourself <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting set up on Herdwatch has never been easier. Simply download the app and sign up to the Free Plan, which allows you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Download your herd from APHIS (NI), BCMS (UK) or Agfood (IRL)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Record 5 calf registrations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Record medicine purchases<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Record heat detection and general tasks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Join over 22,000 farmers already using the Herdwatch app to get ahead of the busy winter months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you&#8217;re focused on milk quality, drying off, or simply spending less time on paperwork, having your milk recording data, EBI and Eurostars in your pocket changes the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start your free trial &#8211; no card needed, full access from day one<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Download the Herdwatch app on iOS or Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get a quote for your farm &#8211; tailored to your herd size and enterprise mix<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still not sure? Talk to a member of our team today &#8211; real people who understand farming, happy to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the housing period draws near and lactation comes to a close, milk recording becomes one of the most valuable tools on the farm. With production beginning to wane, prioritising quality is key to maximising milk cheque bonuses and securing favourable pricing. The good news is that the right information &#8211; milk records, EBI, Eurostars, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[355],"tags":[],"location":[],"class_list":["post-19904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-farming-operations"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Milk Recording - Herdwatch UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/herdwatch.com\/en-uk\/blog\/milking\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Milk Recording - Herdwatch UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As the housing period draws near and lactation comes to a close, milk recording becomes one of the most valuable tools on the farm. 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