Stockmanship covers interactions between cows and people, see below for the different areas within Stockmanship.
Getting the cows in and out
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Moving cattle
Understanding how cows experience the world differently to us can make moving cattle much easier on your farm.
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Multiple mobs
Tips to manage multiple mobs in a way that will minimise their impact on the milking routine.
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Training heifers
Heifers are valuable stock and their introduction to the milking herd requires time and patience.
Stockmanship in the dairy
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Dairy environments
Creating a good dairy environment is key to an efficient milking. This includes dairy design and milker behaviour.
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Milk let-down
The milk let down reflex stimulates milk flow from the alveoli in the udder into the teat canal.
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Teat washing
Teat preparation before milking can involve the cleaning and/or massaging of teats before the cups are attached.
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Cluster attachment
Attaching clusters is a major part of the milking routine and if not done correctly can cause teat damage, cup slipping, and lead to mastitis.
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Cluster removal
All milkers should know how to remove clusters correctly - clusters which are left on too long result in over-milking, liner creep and teat end damage.
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Teat spraying
Teat spraying is critical for maintaining teat skin health and controlling mastitis during lactation.
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Managing animal health
Ensuring animal health issues are dealt with effectively is very important, particularly as herd sizes become larger.
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Drenching in the milking routine
If done correctly the drenching process can be fitted into the normal milking routine with ease and without any substantial increase in milking times.
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Tail management
You can achieve a safe and comfortable working environment for people, with minimal impact on your time or milking routine, by trimming tails.
