The Milking Equipment Association has developed an accreditation scheme to ensure a high and consistent level of parlour maintenance is carried out on UK dairy farms.
The Parlour Safe course, run in association with Reaseheath and Hartpury college, has been championed by industry as an effective standard recognition tool at a time when these are ‘in demand at every level within the food sector’.
Those undertaking the course have the opportunity to improve their understanding in parlour engineering in areas such as regulatory body requirements, hygiene and cleaning, the implications of cow flow and parlour design, parlour testing and maintenance, animal health and animal psychology.
Ruth Bailey, Milking Equipment Association chief executive, said: “The Parlour Safe courses cover all levels of skill, experience and required learning.
“Clients who know their technician has an industry recognised accreditation provides confidence that equipment installation, servicing, repair and after-sales support will be carried out to the highest standards.”
Ian Coleman, land-based lecturer at Hartpury college, said: “The content of the course illustrates the increasing need for a wider understanding of dairy farm management.
“There are so many factors influencing the efficiency of a milking parlour and these engineers are now well equipped to discuss these with their clients and consider how they can improve their systems.
“With milking equipment getting increasingly sophisticated, it is also important farmers are reassured they are working with properly trained individuals, and this accreditation offers that.”
Source: Farming Guardian