A well-structured milking routine is one of the most effective strategies for protecting udder health, minimizing the risk of mastitis, and ensuring consistent milk quality. Mastitis remains a leading cause of production losses on dairy farms, contributing to discarded milk, increased treatment costs, and higher culling rates. Fortunately, many cases are preventable through proper milking hygiene and adherence to routine best practices.
A milking routine is more than just a checklist—it is a structured system designed to:
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Reduce bacterial exposure and infection risk
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Stimulate effective milk letdown to improve efficiency
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Standardize milking practices across the team
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Support milk quality targets, such as low somatic cell counts
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Encourage calm, predictable animal handling to minimize stress
While each farm must tailor its routine based on parlor layout, herd size, available equipment, and staffing levels, the core principles behind the steps remain consistent. Clear, consistent application of these steps is essential—every cow, every milking, every day.
When farm personnel understand the purpose behind each step, they are more likely to follow procedures with care and attention. This shared understanding helps foster a team-wide commitment to best practices, ultimately supporting cow health, operational efficiency, and high-quality milk production.
To ensure success, farms should invest in regular training, post the milking routine visibly in the parlor, monitor consistency, and share performance data such as somatic cell counts and mastitis cases. Developing a written Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with input from milk quality advisors can further support adherence.
Step-by-Step Milking Routine
Before Milking: Setting the Stage
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✅ Calmly move cows to the parlor
→ Reduces stress and promotes better milk letdown
→ Use quiet voices, slow movements, and avoid rushing cows -
✅ Wear clean gloves
→ Prevents cross-contamination between cows
→ Replace or sanitize gloves as needed during milking
Milking Preparation: Clean, Stimulate, Protect
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✅ Remove visible debris from teats
→ Ensures disinfectant is effective and not blocked by dirt or manure
→ Use a clean, dry towel or gloved hand—do not rinse with water -
✅ Apply pre-milking teat disinfectant (pre-dip)
→ Kills bacteria on teat skin, lowering mastitis risk
→ Cover each teat completely and allow proper contact time -
✅ Fore-strip each teat
→ Stimulates milk letdown, removes bacteria-rich foremilk
→ Strip 3–4 streams per teat onto the floor (never onto gloves)
→ Observe for clots, flakes, or abnormal color—report issues immediately -
✅ Dry teats thoroughly
→ Removes any remaining debris or disinfectant
→ Use one clean towel per cow and focus on drying the teat end -
✅ (Optional) Use automatic teat scrubbers
→ Cleans, disinfects, and dries in a single step
→ Follow equipment guidelines; rinse brushes between groups
During Milking: Attach with Care
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✅ Attach milking unit 60–120 seconds after initial stimulation
→ Ensures full milk letdown has begun, supporting milking efficiency
→ Align unit correctly and avoid twisting or pulling on teats -
✅ Monitor flow and adjust unit position if needed
→ Prevents liner slips, incomplete milking, or teat damage
After Milking: Protect the Teat Canal
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✅ Detach unit promptly once milk flow stops
→ Prevents over-milking and vacuum damage
→ Use automatic take-offs or remove manually when three quarters are no longer flowing -
✅ Apply post-milking teat disinfectant (post-dip)
→ Kills bacteria and protects the open teat canal
→ Ensure full coverage; keep cows standing by offering feed or water
Teat Disinfection Methods
Complete teat coverage is critical for effective disinfection. Common application tools include:
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Dip cups
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Foamers
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Sprayers
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Automatic scrubbers
Follow all product label instructions for contact time to ensure disinfectants work effectively.
In short, every step of the milking process has an impact—and when done correctly and consistently, it becomes a key contributor to overall herd performance and milk quality.
