In the larger dairy farms they do three milkings per day and it works out that you run two or three shifts and work continuous round the clock. This is why the additional labor is required.
One of the most important elements to having good milk is to be very clean and meticulous in preparing the cow for milking. Sometimes you clean them and then they get messed up and you repeat the process.
Recently the animal rights people blocked us from docking the tails of dairy cows. We keep adequate ventilation and fly control so they don’t need it as a swatter. Manure covered tails slapping you in the face as you milk is not a happy nor sanitary event.
LOL, I was only there as an observer, and ended up with cow crap on me...no way to avoid it, I assume...:)
I was very curious about that...how on earth do they keep it clean? The folks I watched were very methodical and meticulous.
I came away with an appreciation for Vermont dairy farmers if that place was at all representative...and it seemed to be.
Please don’t place the blame solely on animal rights activists. That is also the recommendation of The American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, and veterinary authorities around the world who say that the practice is bad for animal welfare and completely unnecessary. Even the National Milk Producers Federation, although I don’t understand the 2022 deadline. Farmers could stop causing their cows distress and chronic pain by stopping the cutting off of tails tomorrow.