Low-stress strategies, worker prep streamline milking parlors

Milking time on a dairy farm is a balancing act between maintaining cleanliness and calmness while moving quickly enough to finish on time and get the cows back to their pens where they can eat, drink, rest and produce milk.What happens before milking time matters, said Carolina Pinzon, University of Wisconsin Extension specialist.The release of oxytocin is crucial for milk letdown and for a fast and complete milking. However, once an animal experiences fear or pain, it takes 20 to 30 minutes to