The theme comprises: key messages, grabs for your newsletters, resource material including a free extract from the Technotes and notes on how to use the theme.

Key Messages

• Problems with teatcup liners or pulsation increase the risk of mastitis
• The effect of milking systems on teat health can be assessed after the cups come off
• Effective pulsation must be maintained throughout milking to avoid teat damage
• Seek advice from you milking machine technician for the most appropriate liner for your shed and herd
• Liners deteriorate with age and must be changed at regular intervals

This month's grabs

The above stories are intended for use in newsletters for dairy farmers.

Each story includes a photo or two. You can cut and paste the text, photos and logos direct from the file.

Each of the grabs are on separate pages - click on the links above then cut and paste the text and images. 

You can also download them in a one MS Word file. You will need MS Word 97 or later. The file includes photos and is over  1Mb in size. Click this link to open the file:  November 2000 grabs in MS Word

Resources & references to assist advisers

The Countdown resources on topics in this theme are:

1. Farm Guidelines and Technote number 6 (monitor and maintain milking machine function).  We regard the Technotes as an essential resource for all dairy advisers and hope you will consider buying a copy. Details and an order form are here. 

2. Farm presentation kits - Part 2: 25-33, 35-39, 40; Part 1: 21, 27. The Presentation Kits are part of the PowerPoint presentations on the CD in your Technotes, and are available for loan or purchase as overhead transparencies and flip charts from the regional Countdown co-ordinators.
   You can preview them online from the training resources page.

3. Australian Dairyfarmer column for November 2000: Massage at the parlour

How use this month's theme

Get to know the milking machine technicians in your area that have completed the Countdown Downunder Adviser Short Course. We will publish a list on the website in the next month. 

Link these messages with teat scoring and milking time observations discussed in the September/October Countdown themes.

How to use these grabs

It's easy to cut and paste text and pictures from websites.

Every browser (eg Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator) works slightly differently. But in most browsers you can cut and paste text just as you would in a word processor. You can often save a whole page to your hard disk using "file save as".

On most pages you can double click on a photo to open a higher quality copy. And you can often save images to disk by right clicking on them and choosing "save picture as."

Experiment - you won't do any harm to the website!

From September 2000, a Word file is also available for download. The file contains all of the current month's grabs.

Before using the grabs please

• read our legal notice/disclaimer
• ensure that you do not imply Countdown Downunder endorsement of commercial products or services
• acknowledge Countdown Downunder in your publications 

Acknowledgements 

Please acknowledge Countdown Downunder either in the text or with one or both of the following logos.