Action Steps for Calving Pen Management
In a brief note in the July issue of Hoard's Dairyman two folks from Michigan State shared these action steps to improve cow health with superior calving pen management.
Their recommended steps are:
"1. Wear clean boots in the calving pen. Don't bring manure in with you.
2. Check the bedding by kneeling in the pen. If it is wet, it needs to be removed and replaced.
3. Make sure that the first milking extra care is taken to clean teats very well. Cows have not been prepped for milking for approximately two months. It is important to get their teats and teat ends very clean and to remove any internal teat sealant.
4. Track fresh cow mastitis and set a goal to drive your efforts toward improved udder health." page 436 [emphasis added by me]
Note well the third item - in my experience this is the most common error in collecting clean colostrum - inadequate teat preparation.
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