187 Protocols, standard operating procedures, and employee training to improve milk safety and quality

Abstract

Abstract Dairy farm employees play a key role in ensuring the highest quality milk being delivered to manufacturers. Major concerns associated with milk quality on dairies include the number of clinical mastitis cases, elevated somatic cell counts, elevated bacteria count, and presence of residues in raw milk. All these factors are impacted by the knowledge, skills, and performance of dairy employees working in the milking parlor and other areas of the operation. Exemplary performance on dairies is driven by effective training, motivation, and communication between various team members. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) provide a basis for training employees, improving consistency between and within shifts, and conducting performance evaluations with valuable feedback. SOPs also have the potential to improve milk quality, herd performance, and herd health. SOPs should be specific to the dairy operation and developed with detailed instructions on completing a task. These procedures need to be written in the employees’ native language in addition to English and should be easy to read and understand. The font used should be large and when appropriate, photos should be used to explain or highlight step by step procedures. Once developed, SOPs need to be evaluated at least once a year and revised as needed. Regular trainings are also important for prevention of procedural drifts. Hybrid learning models combining classroom/online and hands-on activities should be considered and implemented. This approach ensures that dairy employees are engaged and appropriately trained, independent of their literacy and reading proficiency. Dairies should also strive to provide a positive, safe, and comfortable work environment for their employees. A positive environment can lead to improvements in employee morale, performance, and retention. Finally, it is important to establish clear and firm expectations on producing the highest quality of milk while providing specific, timely, and constructive feedback.