Dr. Ruben Martinez of the Julian Samora Research Institute at Michigan State University discusses what the focus groups told the Quality Milk Alliance research team about mastitis prevention on dairy farms.

1. Rubén Martinez
With the assistance of Marizel Davila Figueroa;
William Escalante and Christian Ramirez
Annual Advisory Meeting
East Lansing, MI
June 18, 2013

2. 
Pre-evaluation of current behavioral
barriers to adopting mastitis control
protocols
To understand current
behaviors/practices, knowledge, and
beliefs about mastitis control and
antimicrobial use on dairy farms
 Survey of dairy farms (pre-assessment)
 Focus groups with owners/managers and
employees
Sub-aim 1a
2

3. 
Conducted from February through
April in MI, PA & FL
Piloted in MI (two focus groups in Dec,
2012)
Five in MI (additional Spanish-speaking
groups)
Four in PA (additional Amish group)
Three in FL (three key groups)
Focus Groups
3

4. 
Employers/Managers
Spanish Speaking Employees
English Speaking Employees
Amish owners
Groups
4

5. 
Existing Mastitis Control Practices
Barriers to Mastitis Control
Values and Beliefs (regarding
Mastitis control)
5
Focus Areas of
Questions

6. 
Employees generally have an understanding
of mastitis prevention
Various types of bedding are used (manure;
sawdust; sand; water beds)
Milker training is inconsistent
Information usually obtained from
veterinarians, other managers, newsletters,
etc.
Mastitis = Farm costs
Key Findings
6

7. 
Cleanliness -- Farm-wide practices
 Bedding
 Milking practices
 Stripping
 Dipping Variable across farms
 Post-dipping
 Sealing
 Clean equipment (liner replacement, vacuum
lines, milking machines, etc.)
Mastitis Prevention
7

8. 
Well functioning equipment (pulsators;
regulators, etc.)
Avoid overcrowding
 Use of free stalls
 Minimizing stress
Close observation of cows
8
Mastitis Prevention Cont’d

9. 
Training of milkers is inconsistent and
usually done by co-workers (gap in views
between workers & owners/mgrs)
Limited training provided to workers by
veterinarians, occasional workshops
Self learning through videos (limited use)
Manual (SOP; Protocol) for farm use (PA vets
group)
Limited understanding of SCC 9
Training Issues

10. 
Mixed responses regarding communication
problems with Spanish-speaking employees
 ―Language a problem in other spheres‖ – getting to
know them beyond workplace issues (―know their
opinion of us‖)
 Limited translators (usu. through a Latino
manager)
Limited communications between work shifts
Latino workers reluctant to report problems
(―don’t upset the boss‖; ―clam up when someone
breaks something‖; seek to make temporary fixes)
10
Communication Issues

11. ―[Latino workers] don’t like gray areas—they
want a boss‖
Limited understanding of SCC among
workers
Band markings
 Inconsistent use of colors
 Minimizes direct communications between shifts
Minimum communications between ―bosses
and workers‖ – limited opportunities for
worker input
 Meetings do not seek worker inputs 11
Communication Issues
Cont’d

12. 
Meetings with management have limited
discussion with workers (esp. with Latino
workers); characterized by
scolding/accusatory climate
Veterinarians → Mgmt → Workers
Owners → Foremen → Workers
12
Communication Issues
Cont’d

13. 
Veterinarians
Other Managers
Magazines/Newsletters
Local sales guys
Labels on meds
Nutritionist
Internet
13
Information Sources

14. 
Pressure on milkers to produce
 Milkers get all the pressure—whole farm depends
on them
Number of cows milked by employees
suggested is 500 per shift (milking up to 800;
maybe more)
―Quantity over Quality‖ climate; ―time
pressures lead to shoddy work‖; no room for
distractions; ―Rapid pace leads to increased
mastitis‖
14
Production Issues

15. Lack of consistency in cleanliness
 Inconsistent practices across shifts
 Protocol drift; ―employee drift‖ (85-95%
consistency)
 Dirty bedding (problems with wet, frozen, and
recycled sawdust and sand; removing dirty
sand and adding to sand)
 Dirty equipment (machines, hoses, etc.)
 Irregular use of gloves (replacement; sizes)
 Heat and humidity/wet pastures (lead to spikes) 15
Mastitis Prevention
Problems

16. Keeping sick cows too long (should sell
earlier despite productivity)
Undermilking and overmilking identified as
problems (workers)
Cost-cutting measures lead to employee
turnover, which leads to spikes in mastitis
Knowing which antibiotic to use in treatment
Part-time employees are inconsistent
Lack of overall team effort on the farm
Investment in prevention (costs money)
16
Mastitis Prevention
Problems Cont’d

17. Punitive model of worker management
 Upper management only meets with milkers when things
have gone wrong (―save downed cows and never
rewarded‖; ―not even a tap on the shoulder‖)
Limited incentive models
 SCC bonuses by wholesale buyers don’t always flow
down to workers
 Lack of wage increases (unpaid time; 30 minutes early
arrival for shift communication w/o pay– FL)
 Limited time off (12 hour work-shifts; no OT pay; 6 day
work weeks;)
Little or no breaks provided for workers 17
Human Resource Mgmt

18. 
Cultural Gaps – instrumental (task-oriented vs
person-oriented culture)
 Language communication problems are basis for lack
of communication on personal level with workers
 Spanish-speaking workers feel very isolated living on
the farms
―Workers are not respected‖ – leads to worker
apathy (les vale…); workers view themselves as
invisible
 Mutual respect is critical 18
Issues Peculiar to
Latino Workers

19. 
Gap between worker and owner/manager
views -- latter view them as hardworking and
reliable (workers feel non-valued and invisible)
Workers want increased understanding of the
how and why of practices
19
Issues Peculiar to
Latino Workers Cont’d

20. 
Mastitis = costs (important to avoid treatment
costs)
Family farms take pride in quality – they are
personally invested in the product
Profit rate is greater with low SCC
Employees want to perform well on behalf of
employers
20
Values

21. Achieve consistency and accuracy in training; provide
constant reminders of protocol consistency
Provide information/education to meet
managers/employees (esp. Latinos) desire to know
more about mastitis prevention and treatment
Find ways to improve communications
 Translate materials (manuals) into Spanish
View industry in transitional phase from family farm
to corporate businesses and the need for HR
development 21
Summary
Recommendations

22. “Happy cows are productive cows”
22

23. Happy Workers are Productive Workers
23