Milk Production - 4.00pm

Cows are usually milked twice a day (sometimes three times) and milking takes about three hours. The control unit records the milk yield of the cow and warns if the milk composition has altered.

The feeder unit allows the cow to receive exactly the right amount of food in the parlour given her milk yield.

Some cows have mastitis which is very similar to human mastitis. These animals have to be milked but their milk is rejected.

Rejected milk from cows with mastitis is poured down the drain. Herds that are not healthy are not profitable.

After milking a cow with mastitis the cluster will be thoroughly scrubbed clean. Dairy hygiene in the UK is maintained to the very highest of possible standards.