Marking colostrum cows after calving
21 Jul 2021
Having a clear and simple-to-use animal identification strategy, that allows staff to clearly identify cows at a glance, is best practice for effective herd management. The key is to ensure your whole team (including relief milkers) know and use the same marking system.
Marking treated cows as well as colostrum cows means you discount the risk of having antibiotic residue in the vat. You also reduce the risk of infected cows passing on bacteria to the rest of the herd.
Simple identification of colostrum cows
Colostrum cows must be withheld from the milking herd for eight milkings. That means four days if you are twice-a-day (TAD) or eight days if you are once-a-day (OAD).
Heifers should be withheld for 10 milkings – this is because colostrum milk may contain dry cow therapy residue.
3 ways to mark colostrum cows
All of the systems are proven to work well. Decide which one to implement on-farm and communicate that to everyone on your team.
Option 1: Milk the Smiley Face
Day 1: using BLUE - mark a dot on the top left of the cow's udder
Day 2: using BLUE - mark a dot on the top right of the cow's udder
Day 3: using BLUE - mark a dot in the middle of the udder, under the previous day's dots
Day 4: using BLUE - draw a smile at the bottom of the 3 previous blue dots
A blue smiley face on the cow's udder indicates the cow can now join the main herd.
Option 2: The 4 Dots Principle
Day 1: using BLUE - mark a dot on the top left of the cow's udder
Day 2: using BLUE - mark a dot on the top right of the cow's udder
Day 3: using BLUE - mark a dot on the bottom left of the cow's udder
Day 4: using BLUE - mark a dot on the bottom right of the cow's udder
4 blue dots on the cow's udder indicates the cow can now join the main herd.
Option 3: Colour Bands
Day 1: using BLUE - mark a line across the cow's udder
Day 2: using YELLOW - mark a line over the blue across the cow's udder
Day 3: using PINK - mark a line over the yellow across the cow's udder
Day 4: using ORANGE - mark a line over the pink across the cow's udder
End of day 4: using GREEN - mark a line over the orange
A green line across the cow's udder indicates the cow can now join the main herd.
Have a clear treatment identification plan
Because everyone on-farm has a responsibility to protect the milk supply, ensure your team knows the treatment identification strategy. Implement it by clearly explaining and then visually displaying the plan where all staff can easily see it.
By practising MRST, particularly recording all the relevant details, you’ll be able to spot recurring issues come the end of season.
For treatment cows, practice M R S T:
- MARK cows that are sick and require treatment:
Mark the udder into quarters with a simple ‘+’, then place a dot into the affected quarter. - RECORD their numbers and treatment details:
Record these details on a board in the dairy and add the information to your animal health records: cow number, reason for treating, treatment/antibiotic, date of first and last treatments, date of return to the herd. - SEPARATE sick cows and cows for treatment from the milking herd.
- TREAT sick cows with the appropriate medication.
How to mark treatment cows:
Quarters
Using Red Udder Mark, create a cross with a dot to indicate the quarter(s) that is under treatment.
Treatments
Mark the left tag after each treatment with Red, which indicated the number of treatments.
Withholding Days
Mark the right leg after each day of withholding with Red to indicate the milk withholding days.
Green to Go
Cover all red paint with Green Udder Mark when the cow is able to return to the milking herd.
FIL’s range of aerosol markers are the simplest and most cost-effective method for marking animals after calving. View our range here or find them at your local rural retail store.
If you need help implementing a colostrum marking plan call your local FIL Area Manager on 0508 434 569.
