Plicy and Prcedures Yur farming system can be imprved thrugh clear plicies and prcedures. Clear plicies and prcedures will structure yur farming enterprise t enable the farm t perate withut the key persn. Clear plicies and prcedures will help with staff training and ensure tasks are cnsistently cmpleted. Sme f the key areas that require clear plicies and prcedures fr permanent and relief staff include: Farm dairy peratin. Pasture management/feed inputs. Animal health. Mating. Calf rearing. Dn t try t develp everything at nce. Decide which area f the farming system is causing the mst cncern due t cntinual mistakes, high management input r lst prductin and develp a clear farm plicy and prcedures arund this area. Then mve n t ther areas where imprvements are desirable. Farm Plicy Gd plicies: explain what must be dne, why smething must be dne, prvide psitive directin t staff, d nt prescribe the methds fr arriving at the result - this is written in the prcedure. Examples f gd plicy Milking times The first rw f cws must be cupped n earlier and n later than the times indicated belw. This ensures regular milking intervals fr the cws and that milking is finished in time fr the milk tanker. Mrning Milking Evening Milking 5.15 6.00 am 3.30 4.15 pm
Written recrds Recrds must be kept in the dairy diary either n the specific date r in the sectin prvided fr: animal health: sick cws, lame cws, cws being treated, livestck deaths, calving dates/cws n heat (LIC yellw ntebk), brught in feeds arriving n farm, paddcks where effluent is applied, mnthly plant checks, prblems/faults encuntered n the farm, maintenance required, staff meetings, health and safety issues. These recrds are required t ensure efficient management f the farm and t cmply with industry / gvernment rules and regulatins. N Blame This farm perates under a n blame plicy. We expect staff t be pen and hnest with management. If a mistake is made then ntify management immediately s the issue can be dealt with. Management will nt allcate blame but will discuss hw t rectify the mistake and then als lk at what needs t be dne t reduce the chance f the mistake ccurring again. Mastitis preventin and detectin Mastitis is a cstly disease in terms f lst milk prductin, the effect n cws and risk f milk quality penalties if SCC grades are incurred. Therefre the preventin f mastitis is extremely imprtant and the fllwing must ccur n the farm: All cws must be thrughly teat sprayed after every milking. Clstrum cws must be stripped every mrning milking and clinical cases treated. All clstrum cws must be tested n the RMT test at milking 8 befre entering the milking herd. Strng psitives must be treated and weak psitives held back and rechecked after anther 2 milkings. Fr the first 4 mnths f the seasn (July Oct) the milking herd must be stripped weekly checking ne quarter each milking n Mnday and Tuesday. Mnday mrning milking Frnt left Mnday afternn milking Frnt right Tuesday mrning milking Back left Tuesday afternn milking Back right If clts are fund n the milk filter sck after milking then the herd must be stripped at the next milking. This can either be dne ver a few milkings by ding a quarter each milking r by stripping all fur quarters. When clinical mastitis is fund in a quarter all ther quarters must be checked with the RMT and, if psitive, treated at the same time.
Farm Prcedures Prcedures are basically the what hw and when. Gd prcedures tell staff: What must be dne. When it must be dne. Hw t cmplete a task r rutine. Gd prcedures are: well defined, specific t a particular area f the farm, clear and cncise, lcated in area where the task is carried ut, visible t all staff. Examples f gd prcedures Getting the cws in In the paddck Set up the gate s that cws can exit and start making their way t the dairy. Take time t watch the cws in the herd. Nte dwn which cws are n heat and which cws may be sick r lame. Check arund the paddck. This is especially imprtant if there are areas that yu can t see frm the gateway: Check yu have cllected all f the cws. If there are drains check these t make sure that n animals are stuck in them. Check that the fence is secure. If the fence is electric, listen fr any shrts (a clicking nise). Check the water trugh t make sure that it is wrking prperly and that there are n leaks. By the time yu have cmpleted yur check arund the paddck the cws shuld have walked ut f the paddck. If the cws aren t returning t the paddck r if yu are tld t, clse the gate as yu leave. Ensure the gate fr the next paddck t be grazed is pened and check the water trugh is wrking. Teat spray recipe MEL EDEN S TEAT SPRAY RECIPE SPRING MIX STANDARD (JULY NOVEMBER) 4 litres teat spray 2 litres glycerine 14 litres water Makes up 20 litres SUMMER MIX WINDY (DECEMBER - MAY) 3 litres teat spray 1 litres glycerine 16 litres water Makes up 20 litres SHAKE WELL AFTER MIXING SUMMER MIX STANDARD (DECEMBER - MAY) 2 litres teat spray 18 litres water Makes up 20 litres
Lcate prcedures where they are visible t all staff and at the lcatin where the task is being carried ut. Setting up the dairy fr milking (prir t getting the cws) Step Instructin Picture 1 If milk is in vat: Check vat temperature gauge ensuring the milk temperature is belw 7 C. G t step 3. Nte: If milk is ver 7C check chiller is n and running. If milk is abve 10C then check chiller and als call Fnterra n 0800 656568 t advise that the milk is warm. If chiller is faulty then als call refrigeratin prvider (refer cntacts list). 2 If milk has been cllected: Wash the vat fllwing the Vat wash prcedure n the wall beside the vat wash tub. Once the wash has finished check all the wash water has drained frm the vat. Check the vat is clean and clse the vat dr and vat utlet. 3 Turn vat inlet tap s milk will Turn enter vat inlet vat. tap s milk will enter vat. Milk will enter the vat when the tw green tape markings are lined up. Milk will enter the vat when the tw green tape markings are lined up.
4 Clse the fllwing drain pints - they are labelled with a yellw ear tag and the fllwing letter: 1. Drain pint n delivery line belw vat tap. 2. Clip n water feed t flushing pulsatr. 3. Clip cnnecting milk pump t tp f sanitary trap. 4. Clip cnnecting the bttm f sanitary trap t the milk pump intake line. 5 Check the fllwing taps are in the crrect psitin fr milking they are labelled with a yellw ear tag and the fllwing number: 1. Calf milk line tap n milk delivery line needs t be clsed. 2. Air purge tap must be clsed. 3. Wash line tap must be clsed. 4. Milk line butterfly tap needs t be pen in the milk psitin (green tape matches). 6 Clse the pit gates and drafting gates t stp the cws entering exit race. Ensure the yard entry gates are set up fr the cws t enter the yard. 7 Check which paddck is t be grazed next n the whitebard and: Ensure the gate is pen. If the paddck fr grazing after the next milking is n a race that is nt t being used then set the gates up in advance fr this paddck as well.
Using labels Tags can als be used t identify water lines and dispensing system. Ear tags can be used t identify taps, clips and switches. Tags can be labelled t match the prcedure and als used t recrd part f the prcedure. Clear instructins n the tag ensure staff knw what is required withut having t refer back t the written prcedure. Labelling milking machine cmpnents can help when training new staff. Labels n milking machine cmpnents als help when develping written prcedures. These labels can be rdered frm DairyNZ
Seasnal Teat Spray Mixes Teat spray ingredients (litres) Spring Summer Teat spray Emllient/glycerine Water Ttals When using the summer teat spray mix, mnitr the teat cnditin. If teats are dry r in pr cnditin switch back t the spring mix until teat cnditin has imprved.