The dry period is a good time to take stock and complete any maintenance on-farm that will see you well-placed for a productive season ahead.
Watch out for infection
With the cows dried off and out in the pasture, there isn’t the same opportunity to check them for health issues like mastitis, as there is when they are coming in for milking daily.
For farmers looking to maintain or improve production going into the next lactation, it’s important to ensure the herd is checked regularly.
Fonterra Veterinary Programme Manager Mike Shallcrass says maintaining body conditioning scores and avoiding infection are the biggest hurdles facing cows over the dry period and into calving.
“The dry period is a chance to get your cows in optimum condition for the next calving. The better their body condition score and overall health, the more productive they are likely to be,” says Terry Playle.
“The biggest risk of mastitis is in the first few days of the dry period but for cows that aren’t dried off fully it can present much later. The period immediately before and after calving is also a trigger point. From a biological perspective, during dry-off the mammary glands are transitioning from producing milk and without being milked each day, there can be congestion in the teats, causing open teat canals, which allow bacteria to enter.”
Mike says it is important to check all cows regularly for infection during the dry period. If any show signs of infection, treat them as you would a milking cow with mastitis, record their details, and get in contact with your vet to discuss if there are more cases than you expect.
The team recommends:
- Regularly running dry/springer cows through the shed to check for mastitis and teat spraying to help maintain teat health.
- Trimming cows’ tails pre-calving can really improve hygiene and reduce infection risk around calving.
Ensure your dairy shed is up to spec
Every dairy farm in New Zealand must have an annual milking machine test completed by a New Zealand Milking and Pumping Trade Association-accredited tester. While these are a regulatory requirement, the report can provide useful recommendations.
Milk Quality Manager Terry Playle, who is part of Farm Source’s On-Farm Excellence Milk team, recommends farmers take a closer look at the summary.
“There are a lot of details and numbers in the report related to machinery. What farmers should be focused on is the summary page that details what faults have been found, whether they are major or minor, and whether these have been fixed or not. A common recommendation is to ‘service your pulsators’,” Terry Playle says.
“In most cases where there is a fault, the machine company will fix it at the same time as testing and note this in the report – it’s all part of the service. But it’s vital farmers check this. If a farmer is not clear that a fault has been fixed or what particular piece of equipment needs servicing, they should follow this up with the tester.”
It’s also a good time to check rubberware and pulse/air tubes, and clean filters in pulsators and regulars that can become clogged during the season. A well-functioning dairy shed can greatly reduce the risk of teat damage and improve milking efficiency.
Staff training and products at Farm Source
The dry period is an opportune time to hone the skills of farm staff and upskill new staff. Farm Source’s Milk Quality team can support in organising on-farm workshops on lowering somatic cell counts, and organise QCONZ training tailored to farms that allow farmers to upskill a number of staff in one session.
Talk to your local Milk Quality Manager or visit a Farm Source store to find out more tips on preparing for a great milking season ahead.