Drenching is used to balance the diet of dairy cows and to provide protection against metabolic and other illnesses. Products commonly administered include bloat preventatives, magnesium, zinc to support metabolic processes and trace elements including cobalt and selenium.
As new technologies are developed drenching cows during milking is becoming less common. Alternative technologies include:
- adding supplements automatically to the drinking water supply pipeline
- adding directly to water troughs
- spreading as a dust on to pasture or silage
- adding to supplementary feed in troughs or in the bail.
How do I drench during milking?
Wait until the cow lifts her head, then put the nozzle into the side of the cow’s mouth and releases the trigger. The milker may, but usually does not, need to control the cows’ movement by placing a hand over her muzzle. Drenching should take 3-4sec per cow.
What type of drenching systems are out there?
A commonly used drenching system, which is commercially available, consists of a 200 litre drum fitted with a long-shafted centrifugal pump, located in a room adjacent to the bail area.
The active ingredient (usually solid) is stored nearby, added to the drum with water and mixed, often continuously, during delivery using a bypass on the delivery pipeline to keep the mix uniform.
Tips for drenching
Using a hooked nozzle is easier, even when cows are turning their heads away.
To avoid the insoluble solids settling out if left, the mix can be moved continuously in a supply loop to and from the bail area distribution system and drawn off for cows in a measured dose as needed.
A circulating pump, an air compressor and a metering head can be used to accurately measure the required dose. It allows bloat remedy to be kept separate and combined with a mineral mix at the metering head.
Another simple manual system uses timing by the operator to decide the amount required.
Delivery hoses must be cleaned after every milking.