round table discussion - National Mastitis Council

Recipient Nominator
Don Beattie, Holton, Mich. ............................................ Ben Chapin, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Jim and Karen Davenport, Ancramdale, N.Y. .......................... Ruth McGuin, Agri-Mark, Inc.
Ryan and Charina Dellar, Harrisville, Mich. ................ Preston Cole, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Recipient Nominator
Charles and Julie Nelkie,
and Abigail O’Farrell, West Branch, Mich. ................. Preston Cole, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Tim Berry and Dale Armbrustmacher, Fowler, Mich. ..... Andrew Rupprecht, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Jeremy Beebe, Whittemore, Mich. ................................... Preston Cole, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Mark Boehm, Rawson, Ohio ............................................ Jeff Rohlf, Dairy Farmers of America
Ron Brooks, Waupaca, Wis. ................................... Lynn Thornton, Grande Cheese Company
Brad Crandall, Battle Creek, Mich. .................................. Elyse Wilcox, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Gordon Dick, McBain, Mich. ............................................ Preston Cole, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Randy and Cindy Dragt, Howard City, Mich. .............. Kendra Kissane, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Randy and Becky Dreier, Norwalk, Wis. ............................. Bob Zielsdorf, Swiss Valley Farms
Recipient Nominator
Nathaniel Barron, Dansville, N.Y. .................................... Donna Walker, Dairylea Cooperative
Tim, Laura and Ross Blotz, Dodgeville, Wis. ........... Roger Dingbaum, Assoc. Milk Producers
Michael Bosscher, McBain, Mich. .................................... Preston Cole, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Mark Diemer, McBain, Mich. ........................................... Preston Cole, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Philip Fisher, Fort Jennings, Ohio. .................................. Jeff Rohlf, Dairy Farmers of America
Jim and Steve Fontaine, Strykersville, N.Y. .............. Sara Gillette, Upstate Niagra Co-op, Inc.
George Haier, Eden, N.Y. ..................................... Robert Herren, Upstate Niagara Co-op, Inc.
Craig, Barb, Tom and Rob Harkins, Wyoming, N.Y. ........ Sara Gillette, Upstate Niagara Co-op, Inc.
Curt, Maren and Jeremy Holst, Lake City, Minn. ............. Don Schweisthal, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Nick, Linda and Kenny Hurliman, Cloverdale, Ore. . ............. Bryan Gibson, Tillamook Cheese
Paul Kehl, Waterloo, Wis. .................................................. Joshua Luth, Foremost Farms USA
Timothy Klahn, West Valley, N.Y. ........................ Robert Herren, Upstate Niagara Co-op, Inc.
Robert Koithan, North Tonawanda, N.Y. .......................... Donna Walker, Dairylea Cooperative
Brad Krantz, Prescott, Mich. . ........................................ Dave Clark, Dairy Farmers of America
Ron, Beth and Kevin Litwiller, Perrinton, Mich. ............ Steve Lehman, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
PLATINUM WINNERS
Recipient Nominator
Bradley, Robert and Deborah Kartes, West Branch, Mich. ..... Preston Cole, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Bob Kreft, Lansing, Mich. .............................................. Dave Brady, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Jeff, Brian and Glenn True, Perry, N.Y. ................................ Donna Walker, Dairylea Co-op
GOLD WINNERS
SILVER WINNERS
Recipient Nominator
Larry and Nancy, Brent and Polly,
Ross and Vicky Greden, Altura, Minn. . ........................ Dale Heintz, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Andy and Laura Hecht, Cumberland, Wis. ......... Dave Nyberg, Assoc. Milk Producers, Inc.
Timothy and Janice Mater, Deckerville, Mich. ........ Kristin Rawlings, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Duane and Janet Molhoek, Falmouth, Mich. .............. Preston Cole, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Darius and Sherry Simler, Pearl City, Ill. ............. David Bergemann, Lena Veterinary Clinic
Edward, Clara, Carl
and William Stakenas, Free Soil, Mich. .................. Ben Chapin, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Philip and Carol Uhlenhopp, Sumner, Iowa .............................................. Brian Gomer, IBA
Brent, Nancy and Tyler Wilson, Carson City, Mich. ...... Steve Lehman, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
From nearly 200 applicants, these operations stood out for having produced high-quality milk consistently.
Applications were evaluated for measures of quality, systems of monitoring udder health, milking routine, protocols
for detection and treatment of clinical and subclinical cases, and strategies for overall herd health and welfare.
(678) 638-3000
www.merial.com
Recipient Nominator
Joe Machado, Hanford, Calif. ........................................... Arvid Fristad, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Mike, Cheryl and Brian Meier, Glen Haven, Wis. ............ Jim Schmitz, Swiss Valley Farms
Andrew Odeen, Black River Falls, Wis. ........ Bob Hoeritz, Associated Milk Producers, Inc.
Arne and John Peterson, Lena, Wis. .................... Thomas McCaulley, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Edward Rau, Winchester, Ohio ............................. David Moore, Dairy Farmers of America
Mark and Robert Rau, West Branch, Mich. ............... Preston Cole, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
Dean and Darin Strauss, Sheboygan Falls, Wis. ........................................ Jr. Neu, Sartori
Dan Stuart, Lowell, Mich. .................................. Nathan Lippert, Dairy Farmers of America
David and Karen VanderZanden, Casnovia, Mich. ....... Kendra Kissane, Mich. Milk Prod. Assn.
and Steve Gilland, Organic Valley
Marco Verhaar, Bad Axe, Mich. ............................. Steve Steely, Dairy Farmers of America
John Verhaar, Bad Axe, Mich. ............................... Steve Steely, Dairy Farmers of America
Monroe Zimmerman, Liberty, Ky. ........................... Eddie Hasty, Dairy Farmers of America
Jim, Jeff and Mark Rupp Families, Sterling, Ohio ........ Will Moore, Dairy Farmers of America
The NDQA program is made possible by these sponsors’ commitment to milk quality:
(920) 563-5551
www.hoards.com
(800) 428-4441
www.elanco.com
(614) 873-4683
www.selectsires.com
(508) 865-6911
www.iba-usa.com
(800) 392-3392
www.ecolab.com
(608) 848-4615
www.nmconline.org
(877) WS-DAIRY
www.gea-farmtechnologies.us

HOARD’S DAIRYMAN
The 2012 National Dairy Quality
Award Platinum winners are again a
group of exemplary milk quality professionals.
The six farms recognized this
year have both outstanding milk quality records
and operations that strive for healthy and comfortable
milking and dry cows at all times.
Applications came from nearly 200 farms this
year. Just 51 made the final review by a panel of
judges and were designated as either Silver, Gold
or Platinum winners. The previous page lists all
of this year’s winners. Their nominators are also
listed; those individuals deserve credit for bringing
the applications forward.
hoard’s Dairyman is again privileged to cosponsor
the National Dairy Quality Awards with
the National Mastitis Council. The program
would not be possible without the sponsorship
of GeA Farm Technologies, IBA/ecolab, elanco,
QMI, Select Sires and the major sponsor Merial.
Now, let’s learn from the 2012 Platinum winners.
What is your milking procedure?
Beattie: We have a written milking procedure,
and milkers always wear gloves. We predip, strip
22 January 10, 2013
They produce the highest quality milk
These farms pair preventative practices with effective mastitis treatment. The six Platinum winners in this year’s National Dairy
Quality Awards competition work closely with their veterinarians to create sound protocols and outstanding results.
The 315 cows housed at Beattie Farms, Holton, Mich., are producing
25,500 pounds of milk each year, with an average somatic cell count of under
80,000. Don Beattie, owner of the operation, is pictured at the left with
herdsperson Jennifer Saxton. Beattie Farms’ standard plate count averaged
just 1,080 during its application year. The farm has a double-16, rapid-exit,
herringbone parlor. The cows lie on either free stalls bedded with sand or
a bedded pack. Sand is added to the free stalls once each week, and the
alleys are scraped twice daily. In the bedded-pack area, chopped straw is
added twice per day. “They work very hard to make sure they are shipping
the best quality milk possible, consistently throughout the year, “said nominator
Ben Chapin of Michigan Milk Producers Association.
62nd Annual HOARD’S DAIRYMAN ROUND TABLE
out foremilk, dry teats with cloth towels, attach
milking units and postdip.
Davenport: We also have a written milking procedure,
and our milkers always wear gloves. We
strip out foremilk (plastic strip cup/black screen),
predip with Nolvasan teat dip, dry teats with single-service
white towels, attach milking units 60
seconds after forestripping and postdip (same as
predip with nonreturn teat dippers). We ensure
cows always lie back down in clean, dry bedding.
Dellar: We dry wipe teats with microfiber towels
to remove sand, dip teats with foam, strip out
foremilk and massage dip into teat ends, redip, dry
teats with microfiber towels, attach milking units
and postdip. There is a written milking procedure,
and milkers wear gloves for every milking.
Kartes: We have a written milking procedure,
and milkers wear gloves 100 percent of the time.
We wipe sand and debris off teats with a dry hand,
strip out foremilk, predip with 1 percent iodine, dry
teats with cloth towels, attach milking units, hand
strip after milking if a quarter looks abnormal and
postdip with 1 percent iodine.
MSU: We spray a predip (massaging it on the
teats and teat ends), strip out foremilk, dry teats
with individual cloth towels, attach milking units
and postdip. We have a written milking procedure,
and milkers wear gloves all the time.
True: We have a written milking procedure.
Milkers wear gloves and change them with every
pen change. We predip, strip out foremilk, predip
again, dry teats with cloth towels, attach milking
units and postdip.
How do you maintain healthy teat ends?
Beattie: We make sure teats are clean and dry
and that the udder is well stimulated at the time
of unit attachment and maintain vacuum levels.
Davenport: We look for a 60/40 pulsation ratio,
proper cluster positioning, use IBA Prosquare inflations
and allow the machine to be removed only
after the vacuum is completely depleted.
Dellar: We utilize cows’ full oxytocin levels by
attaching units 60 to 90 seconds after stimulation,
monitor vacuum levels and make frequent
inflation changes. We also let teat dip dry in the
winter before letting cows go outside.
Kartes: Milkers are trained to wipe sand off
and prestrip before predipping. After predipping,
we wipe each teat and teat end at least three times
Tollgate Farm is owned by Jim and Karen Davenport, of Ancramdale, N.Y.
The Davenports currently own 64 Holsteins and Ayrshires, along with 14
dry cows and young stock. Their Holsteins average 24,000 pounds of milk,
with the Ayrshires at nearly 15,000 pounds per year. In 2011-2012, their somatic
cell count reached only 67,000 in its worst month, averaging 46,750
for the year. The cows are in a tie stall barn bedded with kiln-dried pine sawdust.
Nominator Ruth McCuin of Agri-Mark Cooperative said, “This farm has
been Agri-Mark’s top-quality producer for the last six years. Jim and Karen
know that producing quality milk adds value to their milk check, benefits
cow health and makes them better producers.” Pictured are Jim and Karen
(center), with daughters Laura (left) and Kristen (right).

As repeat winners, the Dellar family maintains milk quality success in their
herd with over 30,000 pounds (a 3,000-pound jump from last year’s winning
application) of production from 200 milking cows. Ryan and Charina Dellar are
pictured with their children, Gavin and Carmen, near their Harrisville, Mich.,
facility. This year, Dellar Dairy lowered its somatic cell count from 53,000 to
43,333 as a 12-month average. Cattle are housed in a sand-bedded free stall
barn where alleys are scraped three times per day — during each milking. The
herd is milked in a double-10 parallel parlor. “Ryan and Charisa pay close attention
to even the finest details while constantly researching and implementing
innovative ideas,” says nominator Preston Cole with Michigan Milk.
to provide good stimulation and thoroughly dry
them. Then we wait 60 to 90 seconds for good milk
letdown before attaching the milking unit. We also
use silicone liners, changed regularly, and check
pulsation rates regularly. We use cloth towels.
MSU: We work closely with our milking equipment
dealer to insure equipment is functioning
properly and use good teat dips.
True: We like an emollient in predip and postdip,
use auto take-offs, routinely monitor vacuum
pressure, do frequent liner changes and switch to
our winter dip in October.
How do you keep cows comfortable?
Beattie: Alleys are scraped twice daily and
stalls are raked once a day. Fresh sand is put
in once per week. Bedded-pack cows are bedded
twice a day with chopped straw. Waterers are
cleaned every other day except in summer months
when they get cleaned daily.
Davenport: We use kiln-dried pine sawdust at
0.5 cubic foot per tie stall per day with 2 ounces
of hydrated lime on foam mattresses. Manure is
scraped by hand at least six times per day, continuously
during milking. We open our barn and
turn on overhead fans during warm weather. Our
barn is closed with eave inlets and a thermostatically
controlled fan when below 30°F.
Dellar: Sand-bedded free stalls are raked every
day, and manure is kicked out at every milking. Alleys
are scraped three times a day at each milking.
New bedding is put in every five to six days. Waterers
are cleaned weekly. We also use tarps/side curtains
and fans to accommodate weather conditions.
Kartes: We have a four-row head-to-head free
stall barn with a feed alley through the center.
We run a one cow per stall capacity at the max,
so overcrowding is never an issue. Our free stalls
are bedded with beach sand every two weeks. Our
barn also has 14-foot sidewalls with curtains all
the way from top to bottom for optimum ventilation.
The barn is completely scraped twice daily
at milking times, and all personnel carry a sand
rake when bringing cows to the parlor. Also, any
sand is leveled flat in stalls at this time.
MSU: Gel mats and pasture mats are scraped
and rebedded twice a day. Comfortable bedding
includes putting down hydrated lime, then kiln
dried sawdust.
True: Sand-bedded stalls are groomed each day
and get more sand twice a week. At each milking,
62nd Annual HOARD’S DAIRYMAN ROUND TABLE
we clean out the backs of the stalls and scrape alleys.
We also monitor neck rails and free stalls to
make sure the measurements are correct.
each pen has its own sprinklers, plus the holding
area has a soaker. The pens and holding area
have 60-inch fans which enhance the natural ventilation.
We have curtains for inclement weather.
We use foot baths on the exit alley of the parlor
and rubber belting in all feed alleys. Feed pushup
occurs 12 times per day.
How do you detect subclinical cases?
Beattie: DhI hot sheet and CMT.
Davenport: CMT screening or DhI high SCC
cow list.
Dellar: CMT paddle and PortaSCC strips along
with our DhI hot sheet.
Kartes: We CMT paddle all fresh and dry-off
cows. Also watch milk weights and conductivity
reports daily.
MSU: DhI hot sheet, DeLaval cell counter and
CMT paddle.
True: Monthly DhI SCC testing and CMT testing
on suspicious quarters.
How do you detect clinical mastitis?
Beattie: Forestripping, udder abnormalities, cow
behavior and CMT.
Davenport: Strip cup, backed up with CMT.
Dellar: Prestripping in addition to observing
udders and cow appearance.
Kartes: Prestrip every cow, visually check every
cow after milking for abnormal quarters.
MSU: Stripping as part of milking procedures.
True: Forestripping, low production, CMT testing
and watch for abnormal udder appearance.
Describe your fresh-cow monitoring.
Beattie: We monitor each cow closely by checking
milk, body temperature and udder swelling.
We use the CMT on third milking and treat any
positive quarters with Spectramast LC.
Davenport: All fresh cows are CMTed, and
prefresh cows are checked visibly for swollen
quarters or teat damage. For any high counts not
attributed to colostrum, we culture and use the
quarter milker until results are obtained. Since
it is often no growth, any more clinical signs are
cultured but treated with an over-the-counter
broad spectrum lactating remedy.
Dellar: DhI monthly hot sheet, CMT paddle
An 87,000 SCC put Circle K Farms in the 2012 National Dairy Quality Awards
winners’ circle. Their farm currently has 250 Holstein cows that are milked in
a double-16 parallel parlor. In the parlor, milking technicians wear gloves and
follow a written protocol, with five of the six milkers being family members.
The Kartes’ parlor records daily milk weights and uses conductivity to detect
mastitis. Circle K is owned by Brad and Debby Kartes and achieves 24,000
pounds of milk per cow in West Branch, Mich. In addition to the low SCC, the
farm’s standard plate count averaged 1,170 in the 12-month period of the application.
Pictured are (Back, L to R) Cole, Brad, Debbie and Keith. (Front, L to
R) Tucker, Adysen, Lauren, holding Duke; Heather and Hayden Kartes.
and PortaSCC strips. We CMT paddle each cow on
the fifth milking. If the CMT is good, we pull individual
quarter samples and run the PortaSCC on
each quarter. When all quarters are below 50,000,
the cow’s milk enters the tank. If the CMT is bad, a
sample is taken and a culture is performed on farm.
Kartes: We milk all fresh cows in the bucket
for six days, then we CMT paddle all quarters. We
have to get a negative result in all quarters before
that cow’s milk goes in the bulk tank. We also
heavily prestrip and watch daily milk weights
and conductivity levels. If we get a positive, we
will on-farm culture that cow and treat her with a
lactation therapy according to the pathogen.
MSU: After a negative Delvo test for antibiotics,
we check SCC with a DeLaval cell counter.
True: We use visual monitoring of colostrum
and forestripping at freshening. Otherwise, we
use monthly SCC testing by DhI, forestripping to
monitor for mastitis and vet-established mastitis
treatment protocols. We do routine bulk tank culturing
for mastitis pathogens. Treated cows are
milked in a separate flat parlor.
What steps do you take at dry-off?
Beattie: Cows are taken off TMR, fed dry hay
and milked once a day for five to seven days to lower
their milk production, then at dry-off day, they are
administered with Albadry Plus, then Orbeseal.
Cows are in a bedded-pack barn that is sawdust
bedded. They have access to a dirt lot for exercise.
The barn is bedded two times per week and cleaned
once a week. Two to three weeks prior to calving, the
cows get moved to a comfortable straw pack barn.
Davenport: Dry cows are isolated from the milking
string and fed free-choice 58 NDF grass hay and
water. We milk them once daily until production is
less than 20 pounds per day. To dry teat, we swab
each teat end with an alcohol pad and simultaneously
inject one tube of Quartermaster while massaging
the quarter. That is followed with a tube of
Orbeseal, postdip and a shot of Triangle 10.
Cows have access to grass pasture for all but
the worst weather. When inside, we use 56 to 58
NDF grass haylage and minerals with refusals to
30-day prefresh cows and heifers.
Dellar: A Spectramast DC tube is used in each
quarter followed by Orbeseal teat sealant. J-5 vaccine
is given at dry-off and one to two weeks before
calving. We also monitor the last DhIA score.
continued on following page
HOARD’S DAIRYMAN
January 10, 2013 23

HOARD’S DAIRYMAN
Another familiar winner is the Michigan State University Dairy Field Lab, overseen
by Bob Kreft. The Lansing, Mich., farm houses nearly 175 Holsteins and
produces over 25,000 M. On this university dairy, students rotate through shifts
in the farm’s double-7 parlor. The herd’s somatic cell count averaged 91,333 for
the 12-month period, with a standard plate count of 1,417 during the same time.
Pictured are (Front row, L to R) Dave Brady, MMPA Member representative (nominator);
Todd Worden, Chelsey Clemens, Cora Watts, Shelbie Britton and Bruce
Kurzhals. (Middle) Dr. Ted Ferris, Jacob Bontrager, Steven Openlander, Rob West,
Randy Bontrager and Bob Story. (Back) Chad Geoit, Calvin Meyer, Jared Lyzenga,
Michael Frazee, Jake Gillis, Fred Openlander and Bob Kreft, farm manager.
continued from previous page
Close-up cows are housed in sand-bedded free
stalls, while dry cows are housed on sawdust-bedded
free stalls kicked out and raked daily. Alleys
are scraped daily.
Kartes: We CMT paddle all cows to check for
subclinical mastitis. If no signs, we dry treat all
quarters with Tomorrow, vaccinate with J-VAC and
move her to the dry pen. If a cow has subclinical
signs, we will treat with appropriate lactating treatment
until clear, then dry off with dry treatment
and J-VAC vaccine, then move to dry pen.
Dry cows are housed in sand-based free stalls,
bedded every two weeks and leveled daily.
MSU: We treat with Quartermaster and Orbeseal,
then apply T-hexx dip and vaccinate with J-5.
True: We milk the cow out, dry treat with Tomorrow
and Orbeseal and then use T-hexx barrier dip.
Dry cows go to a sand-bedded free stall barn. They
are also vaccinated with J-5 at prefresh. Sand bedding
is applied weekly, stalls groomed daily and alleys
are cleaned two times a day. The barn has 60inch
fans to optimize air quality, rubber belting on
the feed alleys and cows see frequent feed pushup.
Describe your treatment procedures.
For mild cases:
Beattie: We treat with Spectramast LC intramammary
(IMM) and segregate the treated cow.
Davenport: Quarter milk until culture results
come back. Then we treat in the quarter or allow to
self cure (no visible growth samples).
Dellar: We take a sterile sample, run the culture
and determine SCC using a PortaSCC strip.
We read the culture result and decide to treat
based on the organism found, or not to treat and
let her self cure. If treated, Spectramast LC is
most commonly used once a day for eight days.
Kartes: After a culture, gram-positive cows are
treated with Today for four consecutive milkings
24 January 10, 2013
62nd Annual HOARD’S DAIRYMAN ROUND TABLE
inserted IMM. Gram-negative cows are milked
in a bucket until clear in CMT paddle/or dry off
quarter or sell.
MSU: We use Spectramast LC IMM, Polyflex
intramuscular.
True: Oxytocin at milkout, then five days of one-
time-a-day Spectramast LC.
For moderate cases:
Beattie: We treat the quarter with Spectramast
LC, segregate, and give Polyflex intramuscular
and aspirin.
Davenport: We culture, give an IV of
Banamine over the counter with Spectramast
IMM. We use Today if culture indicates a bug
that isn’t Spectramast’s forte.
Dellar: We take a sterile sample and give four
aspirin boluses for swelling. Then, we apply Udder
Comfort and treat at first sign and after positive
CMT test.
Kartes: Same as mild with the addition of four
aspirin boluses twice a day for two days and rub
on udder mint cream after milkout.
MSU: Same as mild cases.
True: Same as mild cases with four aspirin
once a day for five days, and Udder Comfort.
For severe cases:
Beattie: We treat quarter with Spectramast LC
(IMM), segregate, and give Banamine and hypertonic
saline (through IV) and Polyflex (intramuscular).
Davenport: For those rare, severe cases, we use
two hypersaline IVs, a Banamine IV, then a milk
culture. We use Spectramast IM multiple times unless
the culture proves a bug is not susceptible, then
we use Today. We would milk her with oxytocin.
Dellar: We do not have systemic mastitis cows.
Kartes: Same as mild and moderate plus two bottles
of dextrose twice daily until she improves. We also
use 60cc of oxytetracycline intravenously one time.
MSU: Same as mild and moderate, plus a flu-
Reprinted by permission from the January 10, 2013, issue of Hoard’s Dairyman Magazine.
Copyright 2012 by W.D. Hoard & Sons Company, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.
The site called “Farm 2” at True Farms, Perry, N.Y., is owned by Jeff, Brian and
Glenn True, and it houses 380 Holstein and Brown Swiss cows which averages
nearly 26,000 M and a 78,000 SCC. Pictured are (Front, L to R) Trenten
and Taryn True. (Back) Andrea, Brad, Stacia, Tucker, Jeff, Chris; Noemi and
Zeferina Garcia; Diane and Brian True. They milk in a double-10 parallel parlor,
and cows lie on sand-bedded free stalls with bedding added twice each week.
Farm 2 has rubber belting in the entire feed alley and pushes up feed 12 times
per day. Donna Walker, nominator from Dairylea Cooperative, says that, “True
Farms does an exceptional job balancing the production of high-quality milk.
They thoughtfully create protocols and follow them for consistent results.”
nixin IV, hypertonic saline IV and drench with
YMCP that contains yeast, magnesium, calcium
and potassium and about 10 gallons of water.
True: We use oxytocin and Spectramast LC at
milkout. We’ll use Banamine IV for three days,
use Naxcel intramuscular four days, 2 liters hypertonic
saline IV, drench with 10 gallons drench mix
(YMCP mix) and monitor temperature.
How do you track treated cows?
Beattie: Ours are double banded with red velcro
leg bands. Records are kept in an on-farm notebook
containing cow ID, date treated and treatment
given. We use PC Dart.
Davenport: A leg band is on the rear leg of the
side you milk from and note to next milker. Records
are kept on the individual paper cow record page.
Dellar: Red rubber leg bands on both legs, red
spray paint on legs and udder. Parlor notebooks
and calendars. All treatments are entered into
computer as well. Notebooks are kept, and computer
records are permanent.
Kartes: With fluorescent orange ribbon and
binder twine around pasterns. Also, our milking
parlor alarms us if we try to attach a milking unit
to a treated cow. All treated cows are marked on
a daily calendar in the parlor with the treatment
and what milking it needs to be administered. All
treatments are kept on herdmetrix dairy software
program, and a backup is made daily.
MSU: With a plastic yellow leg band, daily log
book, Dairy Comp 305 and instructions posted in
the parlor pit.
True: They are banded and separated out into the
hospital string and milked in a separate flat parlor.
every cow has a treatment log. Plus, the cow is
entered into Dairy Comp 305. We also have a daily
treatment book. every event is entered into the
cow’s Dairy Comp record, plus the treatment log.
Beattie Davenport Dellar Kartes MSU True
Cows (milking/dry) 250/65 64/14 200/30 210/40 146/28 313/57
Breed Holstein Holstein/Ayrshire Holstein Holstein Holstein Holstein/Brown Swiss
Milk (lbs.) 25,500 23,931/14,689 30,053 24,000 25,505 25,989
Fat (%) 3.9 3.7/4.0 3.3 3.4 3.8 3.7
Protein (%) 3.1 3.0/3.1 2.9 2.9 3.1 3.0
SCC avg. 79,833 46,750 43,333 87,000 91,333 78,000
SPC avg. 1,080 1,333 1,250 1,170 1,417 4,000
Cows leaving the herd (all reasons) (%) 9.5 25.6 26.9 14 31.6 3.2
Udder health-related culls (% of culls) 0 30 16.1 17.1 3.6 16.7