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12 Golden Rules of Conventional Milking

Before milking

During milking

After milking

1. Monitor udder health regularly

2. Follow the right Milking order

3. Always Foremilk 4. Clean and/or disinfect Teats before milking

5. Check Milking Vacuum

6. Attach milking cluster in time

7. Avoid overmilking 8. Detach milking Cluster correctly

9. Disinfect teats Immediately

10. Clean/disinfect milking equipment

11. Ensure proper Milk cooling

12. Regularly monitor Milking results

Always use disposable gloves – always ensure disposable gloves are clean

Before milking

1. Monitor udder health regularly• Always use disposable gloves and

always ensure they are clean• Check udder health regularly; first

check fresh first-calf heifers and cows 1–2 weeks after calving (use Delaval’s California Mastitis Test CMT, DeLaval Cell Counter DCC, Herd Navigator HN, etc)

• Regularly review the dairy processor info on milk quality

• Keep record of udder health results for each cow

• Always keep milk of identified sick cows separate

2. Follow the right Milking order• First start with milking healthy cows and

healthy first calvers• Follow by fresh milking cows and first

calvers—until they are checked for udder health status 

• Always milk older and sick cows last or milk in a separate group

3. Always Foremilk• Always use disposable gloves and

always ensure they are clean• Never strip milk onto the floor• Strip 2–3 milk jets from each teat into a

foremilk or strip cup• Examine the milk for flocculation, colour

changes or other inconsistencies• Always keep abnormal milk separate• Foremilking also stimulates the milk let-

down

4. Clean and/or disinfect Teats before milking

• Always use disposable gloves and always ensure they are clean

• Clean each teat and teat end, preferably using an approved pre-milking teat cleaner

• When pre-milking teat disinfection is allowed: use approved pre-milking teat disinfectant and wait 30 sec before removing

• In all case use disposable paper or udder towels to clean off and carefully dry each teat properly

• Never use paper or towels for more than one cow

During milking

5. Check Milking Vacuum• Always check the milking vacuum at the

start of each milking• Vacuum level, pulsation rate and

pulsator ratio should be in accordance with DeLaval recommendations

6. Attach milking cluster in time• Always use disposable gloves and

always ensure they are clean• Always make sure to clean or, when

necessary, disinfect clusters in between cows

• Attach milking cluster within 60 sec after teat preparation

• Avoid air entry during cluster attachment• Check cluster positioning• Make sure that long milk tubes are

aligned with pulse tube, avoiding twisting of tubes

7. Avoid over-milking • Watch the milking process during

milking; don’t do anything else• Over milking could damage teat ends• Identify the end of milking; by direct

observation of milk flow; or via flow sensors in case of automatic cluster removal

8. Remove clusters correctly• Always use disposable gloves and

always ensure they are clean• Shut off vacuum to the cluster when

milking completed (manually or automatically)

• Allow claw vacuum to decline fully before removing cluster

• Do not squeeze the udder• Take off cluster after vacuum shut-off

After milking

9. Disinfect teats Immediately• Always use disposable gloves and

always ensure they are clean• Dip or spray teats as soon as the milking

cluster has been removed• Use an approved post milking teat

disinfectant as this is the most effective way to prevent the spread of mastitis

• Keep the cows standing up for 30 minutes after milking

10. Clean/disinfect milking equipment• Clean outside milking units and all

surfaces in the parlour• After each milking rinse and clean

internal milking system, either manually or automatically

• Use approved detergents, following dosing, routine and temperature instructions on the label

• When required disinfect the milking system using approved sanitizers, following label instructions

• Remove clusters from cluster cleaners and allow milking system and milking units to dry

11. Ensure proper Milk cooling• Always check temperatures to ensure

correct cooling is reached during and after milking

• Make sure always to follow dairy specific recommendations for cooling temperatures

• Milk cooling and milk storage tanks need to be cleaned immediately after emptying, using approved detergents

12. Regularly monitor Milking results• Review dairy processor info on milk

quality and milk composition regularly• If available, cross check with data from

CMT, DCC, HN, etc on a regular basis• Regular preventative maintenance

including replacement of liners , tubes and other parts, according to DeLaval recommendations, is the best way to ensure a well functioning milking system

Always use disposable gloves – always ensure disposable gloves are clean

12 Golden Rules of Conventional Milking—in detail