Background: Since 2021, UVM Extension Dairy Specialists Whitney Hull and Kelsie (Meehan) Braam have been providing direct technical assistance to Vermont dairy farms as part of the Dairy Herd Management Technical Assistance (DHMTA) Program. Support is provided to farmers through direct consultations, including farm visits, workshops and longer-format educational programs. The DHMTA Team has expertise in herd health, milk quality, nutrition, grazing and pasture management, records analysis, and on-farm processing. 

In the spring of 2024, farms that had previously engaged with the DHMTA program were invited to apply for grants of up to $2,500 to support the adoption of a new practice or technique to improve overall dairy herd management on their operations. These small awards are intended to facilitate the trial of a new technology or practice to improve dairy herd management.

Six farms were awarded grants and this Farm Grant Profile series will highlight one farm grantee each month. 

Kingdom Creamery of Vermont was awarded a grant to receive a parlor audit from Cornell University’s Quality Milk Production Services.

Kingdom Creamery of Vermont is a third-generation dairy farm owned and operated by Jeremy and Leslie Michaud and their four sons in East Hardwick. They manage a herd of 350 milking and dry cows. Kingdom Creamery ships milk to Dairy Farmers of America and has an on-farm processing plant where they produce premium ice cream and ice cream mixes distributed across New England.

Kingdom Creamery was awarded a grant to conduct a parlor and milking systems audit by Quality Milk Production Services (QMPS). We spoke with Jeremy Michaud, owner of Kingdom Creamery of Vermont, about their farm’s experience with the audit:

Q: What management issue did this demonstration project address on your farm?

A: Improving milk quality has been a goal for our farm, and this project provided the opportunity to take a comprehensive look at our entire milking process. From bedding and udder health to vacuum pressure, the audit allowed us to thoroughly assess each aspect of our operation. By identifying specific areas for improvement, we now have a clear path to achieving our milk quality goals.

Q: How did you track your progress or monitor your results during the project?

A: We received a report from QMPS following our parlor audit with the data they collected during their visit. This gave us key areas to focus on so we can monitor our progress moving forward. Based on the results of this audit our farm will focus on monitoring teat-end injuries, clinical cases of mastitis, somatic cell count reports, and parlor maintenance.

Q: What were the findings from this project?

A: The QMPS report showed us the areas where we can improve. The report allowed us to identify three main areas that we will focus on moving forward. The first area of focus is modifying our parlor routine so we have a longer lag time which will allow for a better milk let down for the cows.

The second area of focus is stall management. Following the audit, we have increased our bedding frequency and constructed a piece of equipment that allows for better maintenance of sand in the stalls.

The final area of focus is parlor maintenance. We have an aging parlor and the data shows how important it is to make sure the parlor is working properly to keep milk quality high.  

Q: What benefits or challenges did you experience?

Our biggest challenge will be gaining buy-in from our team members to adjust their routines. While we’re fortunate to have a dedicated crew of milkers who consistently follow our established protocols, encouraging them to adopt new practices can be difficult. However, we’re confident in their willingness to adapt, as many of them have been with us for years and share our commitment to maintaining high milk quality.

The biggest benefit to our farm is the data provided by QMPS. It allowed us to see that several small changes can lead to significant improvement in milk quality. It all adds up.