Time to focus on housing prep
As the nights begin to lengthen it’s time to prepare your cows for their return to winter housing which can present a host of management changes.
Alison Cox, Global Application Specialist at Diversey, looks at the environmental challenges for housed herds.
There are common hygiene issues on every dairy farm, particularly during the transition from summer to winter – but most can be avoided.
Winter housing management not only applies to cattle coming in after a summer of grazing, but also to the increasing number of all-year-round housed herds.
Although there may not be a change in their environment, autumn is the perfect time to review current practices and environments to avoid unnecessary problems.
Spending time conducting important infrastructure maintenance and hygiene work now will ensure animals are housed in a clean, well-managed environment to reduce bacterial levels.
Lower bacterial levels mean a lower risk of infection from diseases like mastitis, digital dermatitis and respiratory conditions.
It will also reduce the need for firefighting problems which can be costly, reduce efficiency and lead to a loss in production in the crucial winter months.
Building Maintenance
Cleaning and disinfecting all buildings pays dividends. It reveals areas, hidden by a build-up of dirt, where repairs are needed.
But comprehensive cleaning can’t be achieved by disinfectants alone as you can’t disinfect dirt!
Bacteria will grow in any type of soiling, so it’s essential to thoroughly clean surfaces before they are disinfected.
Once cows are housed, it’s equally important to keep beds clean and dry by bedding down cubicles and yards with dry material. This may sound obvious but damp and mould is an invitation to mastitis.
Find time to carry out repairs and maintenance to your buildings including drains and gutters, cubicles and water tanks.
A better environment leads to happier staff, cleaner cows and improved performance.
Parlour Management
Autumn is also a good time to review your parlour management and performance with 20% of bactoscan failures attributed to insufficient water temperature.
Making sure it reaches the optimum heat during circulation is vital. Carrying out a thorough check of the parlour wash process - checking temperature and chemical concentration - will also kill thermoduric bacteria, which can survive pasteurisation.
This summer’s long bout of dry weather is a reminder to review the storage of all your CIP and teat disinfection products.
Storing correctly will ensure the products’ integrity and efficacy, protecting from frosts and hot weather, as well as flooding or contamination.
Decant drums can be an easy entry point for bacteria, leading to a deterioration in effectiveness, particularly when not cleaned or stored correctly.
If they are used, make sure they are regularly rinsed out and cleaned. The same goes for teat dip cups, hand sprayers and all other parlour equipment.
It’s also crucial staff are aware of a change in routine to ensure consistent performance, as well as what, when and how to use pre-and post-milking products correctly.
Teat Hygiene
Don’t overlook teat preparation. Winter housing conditions can present increased hygiene challenges, so be ready to adapt your teat preparation routine to meet the conditions.
Whilst simple paper towelling in the summer may be sufficient, there are a number of additional challenges in the winter.
Worsening weather or pressure on housing facilities may require a more robust method of preparation.
The inclusion of an efficient pre-milking disinfection routine is important to ensure bactoscan results are kept on an even keel and after milking, make sure the teats are totally covered with a post-milking disinfectant, such as a barrier product to help prevent mastitis.
The Deosan Target range, including Deosan Target Barrier, Deosan Target Pre-Post and the new Deosan Target Teatfoam Plus, are specifically formulated to ensure all-year-round skin protection for the specific challenges housing, weather and environment bring.
