Managing a healthy, productive dairy herd starts with reliable daily routines and attention to nutrition, housing, and milking hygiene. Whether you’re a new smallholder or managing a larger operation, consistent practices reduce disease, improve milk quality, and increase longevity in the herd.
Daily checks and routine
Start each day with a quick but thorough walk-through. Check cows for signs of illness, injury, lameness, reduced appetite, or abnormal behavior. Look at manure consistency, breathing, and udder condition. Prioritize these quick checks:
- Observe appetite and water intake — sudden drops often signal illness.
- Watch for limping or abnormal standing; hoof problems should be addressed quickly.
- Inspect udders for swelling, heat, or hard quarters; early mastitis detection saves milk and treatment time.
Milking routines and hygiene
A consistent, calm milking routine improves yield and reduces mastitis risk. Aim for the same order and timing every milking so cows remain relaxed.
- Pre-milking: Clean visible dirt from teats and udder. Strip a few streams of foremilk from each quarter to check for clots or changes in milk.
- Pre-dip: Use an approved teat dip to reduce bacteria on the teat surface; allow a 20–30 second contact time before wiping or machine application.
- Milking machine: Ensure vacuum levels and pulsation are correct, and attach machines promptly to reduce over-milking time. Check for liners wear and replace as recommended.
- Post-milking: Apply a post-dip to help seal the teat canal and lower infection risk.
Keep equipment clean: wash and sanitize pipelines, liners, and collection jars daily and perform regular maintenance.
Nutrition and feeding management
Nutrition is the foundation of milk production. Focus on a balanced diet that meets energy, protein, fiber, and mineral needs for the herd’s production level.
- Forage quality: Good-quality forage (hay or silage) should form the base of the ration. Analyze for dry matter, energy, protein, and fiber and adjust concentrates accordingly.
- Concentrates: Provide energy- and protein-rich concentrates as needed to meet production demands, but avoid sudden changes which can cause rumen upsets.
- Minerals and vitamins: Offer a free-choice mineral supplement formulated for dairy cows; ensure adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus, especially around calving.
- Water: Always provide clean, fresh water. High-producing cows can drink large volumes; restricted water reduces intake and milk yield.
Body condition scoring and production monitoring
Use body condition scoring (BCS) to guide feeding: cows that are too thin lack reserves for lactation and are at higher risk of reproductive problems; overly fat cows may have metabolic issues at calving. Maintain regular milk yield and somatic cell count (SCC) records to spot trends and intervene early.
Health, vaccination, and hoof care
Work with a veterinarian to create a herd health plan: routine vaccinations, parasite control, and protocols for common conditions. Schedule hoof trimming at least twice a year or more if needed. Promptly isolate and treat animals with contagious conditions to prevent spread.
Calf care basics
Calf health determines your herd’s future. Feed quality colostrum within the first hours of life — this transfers critical antibodies. Keep calving pens clean and dry, and monitor newborns for weakness or scours. Develop a weaning plan with gradual diet transitions to minimize stress.
Record keeping and continual improvement
Keep clear records of milk yields, breeding, treatments, hoof trimming, and vaccinations. Use records to identify low-performing animals, track mastitis cases, and refine feeding programs. Small, consistent improvements in routines and record-based decisions deliver steady gains in herd productivity over time.
Final practical tips
- Keep routines calm and consistent — cows respond to predictable handling.
- Train staff on milking hygiene and animal handling; consistent technique reduces stress and disease.
- Review rations regularly with a nutritionist; seasonal forage changes require ration adjustments.
- Address problems early — small issues that are ignored grow into costly ones.
Good dairy cow care is a combination of attentive daily checks, sound nutrition, consistent milking routines, and careful record-keeping. Investing time in these areas pays back in healthier cows, better milk quality, and improved farm profitability.
Very practical advice — I especially appreciated the milking routine checklist. Pre-dip timing is something I hadn’t thought about carefully before.
Clear and actionable. For small herds, keeping consistent routines made a huge difference in SCC for us.
Good reminder about colostrum timing and calf care. I’d add that monitoring calf temperature and hydration are key in the first 48 hours.
Helpful post. Would love a follow-up with sample ration formulations for different production levels and forage qualities.