Dairy farmers follow strict food safety requirements that ensure the cows stay healthy and produce high-quality milk.
Each dairy cow is identified with a unique ear tag that helps the farmer to monitor her regularly. Farmers keep records for each cow, including feed information, health issues and medical treatments. Farmers are highly skilled at identifying sick cows, and cows are closely observed each day. Any change in their health and wellbeing is noted and they are treated immediately. They also receive regular health checks and preventative treatments.
Sick cows are separated from the rest of the herd until return to good health. These cows are still milked but the milk is kept separate and thrown away. Dairy farmers must keep their milking equipment and sheds clean so cows can be milked in a hygienic environment.
Just like people, dairy cows also receive regular health checks and preventative treatments. They are closely observed each day, prior to and during each milking. Any change in their health and wellbeing is noted and they are treated immediately.
Routine care of individual cows includes:
- inspections to check for complete recovery after giving birth
- twice-daily observations during milking
- comprehensive disease prevention treatments including vaccinations
- participation in national disease-control programs.
Milking and handling cows in a calm, stress-free environment is important. Routine practices that reduce stress include:
- allowing cows to remain in their natural social order when coming into the milking shed
- providing an environment that respects normal cow behaviour and their responses to light, noise and smells
- preventing injury to animals by keeping farm facilities such as laneways, fences, troughs and the milking shed, in safe working order