Autumn–Winter Dairy Readiness: Keep Milk Flowing, Cows Comfortable & Costs Under Control
Why this matters
Shorter days, colder wash water, and wetter yards can nibble away at milk quality, cow comfort, and uptime. At Mill Dairy Service, we keep things simple, safe, and productive—so you get more from every litre all season. If you want hands-on help, book our quick Winter Readiness Check and we’ll walk your setup with you.
1) Parlour performance in cold weather
Aim: steady milk-out, clean lines, zero surprise breakdowns.
- Rubberware & liners: Cold hardens tired rubber; replace cracked milk tube, gaskets, and perished jetters. Liners typically need changing every 2,500 milkings or 6 months. Stock up here: Liners & Rubberware.
- Pulsation & vacuum health: Cold snaps expose weak pumps and sticky pulsators. Book a pulsator/vacuum test via Parlour Engineering and swap filters before temps drop.
- Milk filters: Wet yards = higher debris risk. Keep a 2–4 week buffer: Milk Filters.
- Wash cycles: Verify target wash temps and chemical rates (cold incoming water often needs tweak-ups). Refresh hoses and fittings: Washdown Hoses & Fittings.
👉 Helpful kit: liners & rubberware, milk filters, pulsator parts, vacuum oil, washdown hoses.
2) Milk quality & udder care
Aim: protect teat skin, cut environmental mastitis pressure.
- Pre/post-milking routine: Keep the basics consistent—pre-clean, post-dip/spray, and drying. Choose winter-friendly formulas here: Teat Care & Hygiene.
- Teat skin: Swap to winter-grade emollient dips; check spray nozzles for coverage (spares in Teat Care & Hygiene).
- Bedding & cubicles: Keep it dry and level; increase frequency on wet weeks.
- Chilled air management: Prevent draughts at udder height while keeping air fresh.
👉 Helpful kit: teat dips/sprays, paper/cloths, cubicle brushes, bedding conditioner.
3) Calf health, growth & labour-saving
Aim: warm, dry, consistent intakes without burning hours.
- Housing: Dry bed, no draughts at calf level, good airflow above.
- Nutrition consistency: Cooler rooms drop feeder and bottle temps—monitor mixing and delivery temps carefully.
- Hygiene: Step up teat/utensil cleaning; cold slows drying.
- Warmth: Calf jackets help conserve energy for growth during cold snaps—see Calf Feeding & Jackets. Don’t forget ultra-tough Hoof Proof buckets (calf section).
👉 Helpful kit: calf jackets, feeding teats & tubes, buckets, hygiene brushes and detergents.
4) Water, washdown & frost-proofing
Aim: keep water moving and cleanup easy.
- Insulate & lag: Exposed pipes, plate cooler lines, and outside taps.
- Drain-down points: Fit or service drain cocks where freeze risk is highest.
- Non-return valves & seals: Replace tired seals now to avoid back-siphon and leaks.
- Hose strategy: Keep a dedicated winter washdown hose (shorter, easier to drain) from Washdown Hoses & Fittings.
👉 Helpful kit: insulated pipe wrap, valves & seals, heavy-duty washdown hose, quick-release fittings.
5) Yard safety, lighting & electrics
Aim: reduce slips, speed up jobs, protect plant.
- Lighting: Upgrade dim or flickering fittings—short days need bright, even light. S
- Cables & sockets: Replace cracked housings; check RCDs.
- Back-up plan: Test the generator and fuel; log start procedure by the set.
👉 Helpful kit: IP-rated fittings, cable glands, LED work lights.
6) People: warm, dry, confident
Aim: keep the team comfortable and efficient.
- Waterproofs & layers: Winter shifts are easier with reliable gear. Our farm favourite: Monsoon waterproof clothing.
- Grip & visibility: Non-slip boots and reflective touches for dark yard runs.
- Hand care: Barrier creams and gentle cleansers for skin that’s in water all day (see Teat Care & Hygiene for dispensers and sanitiser options).
👉 Helpful kit: Monsoon waterproofs, thermal layers, gloves, head torches.
Quick Order List (copy/paste for the workshop wall)
How we can help—fast
Call: 01603 898963
Email: hello@milldairyservice.co.uk
Or send a quick message via Contact.
FAQs
How often should I change liners in winter?
Rule of thumb: every 2,500 milkings or 6 months, whichever comes first. Heavy sand use or high milk flow may shorten that—ask us to check your counts during a Parlour Engineering visit.
Do I need different teat dip for winter?
Not a different product class, but higher-emollient formulas help prevent cracking and keep teat ends healthy in colder conditions—browse Teat Care & Hygiene.
What’s the quickest anti-freeze win?
Insulate exposed pipework, add proper drain-down points, and store spare hoses warm/dry. Pick up fittings in Washdown Hoses & Fittings.
