Module 5: Milk Quality and Equipment

Welcome & Introductions

Fundamentals of milking equipment & evaluation in the parlor

Morning Break

Teat end dynamics, claw vacuum settings and unit alignment

Lunch

“Milkability”: How to get the cow and personnel participating in appropriate milk let down

Cleaning milking equipment

Afternoon Break

Understanding liners and automatic take off settings

Elora Session 1

Group 1: Teaching Parlor (Thomson & Virkler) – Fundamentals of Milking Equipment & Evaluation Beginner 

Group 2: Classroom/Robot (Vink) – Critical thinking when trouble shooting a milk quality issue on an AMS farm + Tour of Elora Dairy with automation focus

Elora Lunch Break

Elora Session 2

Group 2: Teaching Parlor (Thomson & Virkler) – Fundamentals of Milking Equipment & Evaluation Intermediate

Group 1: Classroom/Robot (Vink) – Critical thinking when trouble shooting a milk quality issue on an AMS farm + Tour of Elora Dairy with automation focus

Udder Care Products: Choosing a teat dip

Assessing milking routines with parlor data

Morning Break

Cow side evaluation – strip yields, hygiene, teat-end cleanliness

Selective dry cow therapy

Lunch