This section presents the following video series related to milking systems, milking machines and milk quality. Each series contains a number of informational videos:

1. Evaluating Milk Performance
2. Milking Systems
3. Teatcup Action
4. Fiber Optics
5. Calf Sucking

Evaluating Milk Performance

UW Milk Quality and the UW Milking Research and Instruction Lab bring you the series, Evaluating Milking Performance. Throughout the series, you’ll learn how to perform various milking time tests to assess the final goal of milking cows quickly, completely and gently. You’ll also be able to assess your herd’s teat end health and reduce teat end conditions, such as hyperkerotosis.

Evaluating Milking Performance: Measuring Claw Vacuum

In this first episode, Dr. Doug Reinemann and researcher John Penry show you how to set up, execute and evaluate testing average claw vacuum in your milking system in a number of different ways and techniques. Measuring average claw vacuum is the most important and direct measurement of the performance of the milking machine.

Evaluating Milking Performance: Teat End Health

Dr. Doug Reinemann and John Penry continue UW Milk Quality’s Evaluating Milking Performance series with the topic ‘Teat End Health.’ In this episode, they discuss three different aspects of teat condition: hyperkeratosis, teat end congestion and teat canal keratin dynamics; and how to evaluate levels in the herd.

Evaluating Milking Performance: Teat Barrel Congestion

‘Teat Barrel Congestion’ is the third topic in the Evaluating Milking Performance series produced by UW Milk Quality. Dr. Doug Reinemann and John Penry provide an overview of this teat condition and discuss factors that influence levels in herd during milking.

Evaluating Milking Performance: Liners

This episode is a continuation of the UW Milk Quality series, “Evaluating Milking Performance.” Research assistant, John Penry, sits down with Dr. Doug Reinemann for a discussion on evaluating liner performance.

Milking Systems

Parlor Routine Training

Milk parlor trial-and-error verses a well planned training program for staff.

Cow Acclimation

Introducing the herd to a new milking facility.

Training Staff for Crowd Gate Management

How to train the humans in proper crowd gate etiquette to reduce frustration during cow entry and exit.

Crowd Gate Management

Techniques to avoid overcrowding and maintain good cow flow at the gate.

Entering and Exiting the Milking Site

How quiet vocal and gentle physical encouragement is more effective for cows entering and exiting the milking site.

Methods of Cow Prep and the Effect of Prep Lag Time

Milk prep processing and timing, the importance of prep lag time and methods of prep sequencing.

Preventing Milk Flow Stallout

Evaluation of teat ends to avoid damage due to overmilking.

Historic Videos

This section presents historic videos of:

1. Teatcup Action
2. Fiber Optics
3. Calf Sucking
4. Teat End Impact

Teatcup Action – NIRD

Below is a series of six videos made by the National Institute of Research and Dairying (NIRD) showing different steps related to teatcup preparation and action in dairy cows. The videos are narrated by Graeme A. Mein.

PART 1: Intro to teatcup action

PART 2: The teat before milking

PART 3: Narrow bore liner start of milking

PART 4: Wide Bore Liner Early in Milking

PART 5: Narrow Bore Liner End of Milking

PART 6: Wide Bore Liner End of Milking

PART 7: The Teat After Milking

PART 8: Pulsations Machine Milking

Fiber Optic Studies

Introduction to Fiber Optic

University of Minnesota – Fiber Optic Studies

Sucking Action of the Calf