Written protocols should be in place and reviewed annually with your veterinarian and employees to ensure that certain procedures are carried out appropriately.

Goals:

To reduce the incidence of mastitis and produce high quality milk.

How to assess:

Review the udder health protocol to confirm that the average SCC for the past 3 months and the past 12 months is <400,000, and that the following information is included and that appropriate criteria are being met:

Dairy Well

• A plan must exist for:
  • Keeping the environment, including stalls and housing, clean (prevention)
  • Proper milking procedure, including a plan for udder prep
  • Proper maintenance of milking equipment, including a plan for service, replacement, and sanitizing
  • Mastitis management and control, including a plan for detection, and records must be kept for all cases
• As per PMO (Pasteurized Milk Order), must dip, wipe, and forestrip each cow, in addition to washing and sanitizing
• Signed by VOR

A template is provided as a guideline; farms may write their own as long as minimum content is met.