News

Milk quality varies by region

A veterinarian says environmental pressures and other issues have some California farmers migrating east toward regions where milk quality is more of a challenge.

Roger Thomson with Milk Quality IQ Consulting tells Brownfield while dairy production in the mountain regions and the plains is growing, their weather is not ideal for California-style farms.  “They’re kind of bringing the California farm model to areas of the country that have more challenging weather.  Open lots in southwest Kansas, open lots in Texas and New Mexico—when the weather’s good, great milk quality.  But, they get these storms there that California often never got.”

He says very simply mastitis is bacteria on the teat end of cows and managing it is a balance between exposure verses resistance.  “If I can increase resistance—healthy cows, robust immune systems, healthy teats and teat ends—than the risk of mastitis bends in the right way down.  If I can reduce the risk of exposure—fewer bacteria in the teat ends, clean cows, clean environment, good prep procedures before I put the units on—that bends the curve down.”

Thomson says farmers need to monitor bulk tank somatic cell counts and clinical mastitis rates to have an adequate understanding of their milk quality.

Brownfield spoke with Thomson during the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

AUDIO: Interview with Roger Thomson