Parlor practice

For several years, the Transition Management Facility, which is managed by the University of Minnesota in conjunction with Baldwin and Emerald Dairies in Wisconsin, has been bringing close-up heifers (and dry cows) through the parlor prior to calving. The facility has its own single-12 parallel parlor, which is used solely to milk fresh cows for 10 to 14 days after calving. So parlor time pressure is not an issue. - If you choose to treat heifers pre-freshening to control udder infections, bringing them to the parlor allows you to do it in a controlled environment where teats can be sanitized properly and animals can be properly restrained.