December 22, 2025

Three pillars of parlor performance: people, equipment and cows

By Matt Dodd, DVM
Diamond V

The parlor is a critical place on the dairy. When it comes to keeping the parlor running smoothly, audits are a helpful way to fine tune protocols or uncover areas for improvement. While challenges differ from operation to operation, most audits revolve around three core areas: people, equipment and cows.

1. People: Training, consistency and culture

One of the biggest risks to parlor performance is procedural drift, or the slow decline in following milking protocols. When processes aren’t consistent, milk letdown can be delayed, which not only reduces yield, but also raises risks like mastitis.

To counter this:

• Hold regular training sessions that not only walk through how to do things, but why each step matters. Understanding the “‘why” can help teams see the bigger picture and feel more connected to their work.
• Develop clear standard operating procedures (SOPs), with visual, step-by-step bilingual instructions.
• Create a strong onboarding process for new hires with structured training in milking routines and cow handling. Robust onboarding reduces mistakes and improves both cow consistency and employee retention.

2. Equipment: Maintenance matters

Milking equipment is like a race car; it needs regular tuning to perform. Stretching equipment life may seem economical, but it can lead to downtime, inefficiency and teat-end damage.

To keep your milking equipment running:

• Implement a written, scheduled maintenance plan that includes regular checks on pulsation, vacuum settings, clogged vents and liner changes.
• Partner with your equipment dealer for regular equipment audits and repairs to prevent issues before they become a problem.

3. Cows: Managing somatic cell counts

Elevated somatic cell counts (SCCs) often stem from a web of factors in and outside the parlor.

To address this:

• Culture milk samples to identify specific pathogens and use those results to guide treatment and future management.
• Manage the cow’s environment. Stall maintenance is especially important. Ensure stalls are clean, dry and properly designed, so manure doesn’t contaminate bedding.
• Support immune function to help cows stay productive and maintain their health. During audits, look closely at the micronutrient profile of the diet. With the right micronutrition, cows can respond more efficiently to stress or disease challenges and maintain normal production.

Measurement matters

You can’t fix what you don’t measure. Track benchmarks like bulk tank SCC, individual cow SCC and mastitis cases to guide management decisions.

It takes a village to keep cows healthy and parlors efficient. Partner with your nutritionist, veterinarian, equipment dealer and trusted advisors like Diamond V to conduct audits and support management decisions that are right for your herd.

Matt Dodd, DVM, is a Ruminant Field Technical Specialist at Diamond V, a Corporate Partner of Professional Dairy Producers^®. He can be reached at Matt_Dodd@diamondv.com.