One of the main determinants of the speed of milking is the vacuum level within the claw. Take these steps to avoid dropping vacuum excessively and slowing milking on test day:

1. Keep extra hose to an absolute minimum. For each foot of additional hose, there can be an additional vacuum drop of up to 0.20 inches due to friction losses in the hose.
2. Keep the "lifting" of milk to a minimum. For each extra foot of additional lift, there can be an additional vacuum drop of up to 0.30 inches due to gravity. This drop is in addition to the drop due to friction from additional hose.
3. Never replace a larger diameter hose with a smaller diameter. For example, if the dairy is using 5/8" hose, do not use 9/16" with your meter. If the dairy does have 9/16" hose, use 5/8" for the extra hose as long as connections are tight.
4. Keep all connections to the meters tight and free of leaks. Be sure meters themselves are not leaking.
5. Be careful not to let in extra air when working with the meters.
6. Work calmly and quietly to not disrupt the letdown response of the animals.
7. As a last resort, raise vacuum slightly (usually 0.5" to 1") on the system. However, the problems with this include:
   1. Remembering to lower the vacuum after testing.
   2. Vacuum at end of milking will be higher, so units must be removed promptly.
   3. Higher vacuum may place extra strain on vacuum pumps.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. Ask the individual to smile.
2. Ask him or her to raise both arms.
3. Ask the person to speak a simple sentence.

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.

Summary data and benchmark numbers have been developed by Minnesota DHIA using the Dairy Comp 305 cow files sent in by your Field Rep each sample day. One of the new reports is included in this packet on yellow paper near the front of the packet. There is no charge for the report.

This report includes benchmarks so you can measure your herd. Depending on the data presented, we will list averages, and may include the average from the top 25% of all herds.

The goal for these reports is to provide you with additional management information (and not the same data every month), to give Dairy Comp 305 and Scout users (one of every 6 DHIA herds) some new ideas and insights on the reports they access daily, and to provide the benchmark data.

On farm software users need to be sure your cleanup settings are set to save information for 365 days. If the settings are not for 365, the data will be incomplete.

If you lose the number, or want to change it because you changed your mind about who you want to give access to, call us at 800-827-3442. You can ask who has access and we will look it up for you.

Training Course 2: Reproductive Records will build a foundation for using DairyCOMP305 to monitor dairy reproductive programs. It is a nine-week course with eight different units. Only learners that have successfully complete Course 1 are eligible to enroll in this Course.

Training Course 3: Somatic Cell Count Records places strong emphasis on both background information for use of individual cow somatic cell count records and advanced DairyCOMP305 program mechanics. It is a seven-week course with six different units. Only learners that have successfully complete Course 1 are eligible to enroll in this Course.

Course I: Intro to DairyCOMP305 (9-week course)
November 29, 2004 – January 30, 2005
February 21, 2005 –April 24, 2005

Course II: Reproductive Records (9 week course, must complete Course I to register)
November 29, 2004 – January 30, 2005
February 21, 2005- April 24, 2005

Course III: Somatic Cell Count (7 week course, must complete Course I to register)
November 29, 2004 – January 30, 2005
February 21, 2005 – April 10, 2005

Congratulations! Milk Quality Continues to Improve