Milking!

Today I finally got to see the milking parlour and try it out!  Unfortunately, we've come a long way from sitting on the stool hand milking.  I was really looking forward to this, but it is all 'mechanical' now.  Our farm, Langhill, has a 28:28 herringbone parlour.  It's exactly as you would expect, being called herringbone, with the stalls at an angle. 14 cows per side can enter and the angle allows good access to the udders by the farmer.  This is an example of what our parlour looks like:

The farmer would access the cows in the center aisle and be just at udder height. Directly above his head are the 'computers'. 

One person can handle the milkings, which occur at 5am and 3pm daily.  The milking is pretty high tech these days...the cows are identified by their electronic collars as they enter the parlour. The computers will flash up the number of the cow (which is also branded on their bum).  The farmer checks to make sure the numbers match because each cow is fed concentrate while they are milked and it's matched to their number.  They get different amounts based on their milk production (more milk requires more energy, which means more food), age, body condition, etc.  Also, some cows might be on antibiotics, which means their milk cannot go into the main tank and must be re-routed into a bucket to be discarded.  It is critical the farmer knows which cow is which, and therefore will confirm the first cow in.  He can manually punch in the correct number, if it's not right and all of the computers after will auto-correct.

The procedure is to dry wipe off the cows teats and then place the automatic cluster on each teat. This is sometimes easier said then done!  It's a vacuum system, so it's like a vacuum (hoover) and once you get it near the teat...it sticks to it.  I hoovered one's tail for a moment..oops.  Dairy cows are used to being handled, but you get some that stomp and move, so you do have to be aware of the potential to get kicked.  Plus, you are always on the lookout of the brown shower coming from above! 

Once the system detects the amount of flow decreasing to a point about 30 seconds from the cow being finished milking, a light will start blinking.  At this point, you should be ready for the cluster to automatically be released and hoisted back up to it's resting area.  If you are not paying attention, the cloister can peg you in the head, back...you name it.  They are fairly solid and look like this:

 

The four ends simply attach to the teats and the clear part will be close to sitting on the floor and you can visualise the milk passing through.  Pretty nifty.

Once the cluster automatically drops off, the last step is to take a hanging hose filled with iodine, and spray off the teats.  This cuts down on the likelihood of infection. 

We learned of the tests performed on the milk for it's quality (protein, butterfat, somatic cell count and bactoscan (for bacteria).  Based on the contract with the milk company you sell your milk to, you get premium prices for certain ranges of these and can get fined for others.  For instance, any antibiotics found in the milk result in fines. At Langhill, cows on anitbiotics have red bands on their legs and also have been entered into the computer, so when their electronic collar registers, a few red lights go off and the computer has to be manually overidden to ensure you have re-routed milk out of the main line. 

It was a dirty deal, but not as bad as I expected.  You will get feces on you at some point, more than likely...it splatters a good bit.  But, this is why you wear waterproofs and wellies.  A good hose-down afterwards, a cup of tea, and you are good to go.

AND, I saw Maggie Moo!!!  Unbelievably, I recognized her by her face markings and confirmed it with her branded number on her bum when she walked by.  She is a big girl.  One of the farmhands said she might not be around too much longer.  Her udder is quite stretched out and she has one wayward teat that makes it difficult, if not impossible, to get the cluster on all four.  This, of course, affects her milk production. He said they will keep her as long as it makes sense.  Poor Maggie Moo. 

It was quite a fun practical. I had read up a bit on all of the background of the parlour, the testing and acceptable numbers beforehand, so when our instructor asked questions to our group, I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to answer most of them.  It does help in the learning process to be prepared - take a look over the learning outcomes before any lecture, tutorial or practical and I think you will have more deep learning.

Another memorable day in the life of this vet student.  A big 4 day weekend coming up, so that is welcome!

Till next time.....

Over-N-Out