A fantastic day was had at the Agri Aware Farm Walk and Talk event in Kildalton Teagasc Agricultural College, Co. Kilkenny on the 9th March 2023. The Farm Walk and Talk series the practical elements of modern agriculture to second-level students preparing for their Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science exam.
With the aim to gain real-life experiences on working farms, FRS Training QQI Best Practice in Milking instructor and FRS Farm Relief Kerry Co-ordinator, Sean Cronin, was on hand to demonstrate milking skills to numerous schools throughout the day.
In the on-site milking parlour, Sean used a set of clusters and dummy udders to showcase the correct method of attachment. He also chatted through general milking skills, best practice in the parlour and touched on key safety elements.
The practical demonstration and knowledge came from the FRS Training Best Practice Milking Course which is specifically designed to develop your skills as a milker to ensure that all cows are milked efficiently and effectively integrating top quality milk, food safety, herd health and dairy cow welfare.
This course is for anyone interested in enhancing their milking skills or working on a dairy farm. It is a QQI level 6 course delivered in conjunction with Teagasc and Animal Health Ireland.
There are two elements to the course, first a 2 day theory and practical assessment, followed by a theory exam at a later date.
Attendees can expect to learn about the overall milking routine, milk quality and was washing up will also be looked at. In addition, the tutor also goes through Mastitis – what it is & how to prevent, best practice in drying off and signs of heat detection.
Routines will vary between farms, parlour types, and different systems, but there are operations that should always be carried out. Attendees will look at these and the different parlour set ups and time will be given to chat through animal treatments, dosing and recording etc. and best practice for chemical usage.
The milking process is an essential asset to a dairy farm and the performance is paramount to the continued success of production. Having a competent milker who is familiar with a good milking routine is essential. The advantages of having a good milking routine include:
- Reduce stress on cows
- Early detection of Mastitis
- Better milk quality
- Reduced repetitive strain injury
- Lower somatic cell count and less mastitis
- Better cow flow through the parlour
For more information about the FRS Training Best Practice Milking Course, go to https://www.frstraining.com/sectors/agriculture-horticulture/milking-course/.