Best Milking Practices-On-Farm Culturing

Course Details

This workshop covers the importance of early detection of mastitis and proper treatment and is designed to help participants increase milk production-and therefore farm income-and decrease treatment costs.

This hands-on workshop is offered to dairy producers, employees and milkers to help increase the quality of milk that is produced in Pennsylvania.

Milking consistency affects cow well-being, mastitis risks and milk output. Participants will learn about the importance of early detection of clinical and sub-clinical mastitis and proper treatment protocols. After completion of this program, participants will have the essential tools for early detection of clinical and sub-clinical mastitis, as well as the proper techniques for collecting milk cultures, setting up cultures for on-farm identification and the knowledge to identify bacteria growth. Participants will also be taught how to properly develop treatment protocols that meet their individual farms bacteria growth. This, in turn, will increase income through increased milk production, increase premium benefits and decreased cost of treatment.

Instructors

Instructors are Greg Strait, Amber Yutzy, Andrea Tholen, Penn State Extension educators.

Agenda Topics

• Farm costs of clinical and subclinical mastitis
• How to properly obtain sample milking cultures.
• How to properly set up milk cultures
• How to properly identify bacteria growth on milk culture plate
• Setting up standard operating procedures for treatment

SmartStart Credits

This program is eligible for 1 SmartStart credit from AgChoice Farm Credit.

Contacts

For more information, call toll-free 888-373-7232 or contact:

• Amber Yutzy, Extension educator: anl113@psu.edu
  
• Greg Strait, Extension educator: gls10@psu.edu
• Andrea Tholen, Extension educator: aut16@psu.edu