Free Animal Care Record-Keeping Books Available to Dairy Farmers and Veterinarians

The Books Help PA Dairy Farms Comply with National FARM Requirements

As we begin a new year, the Center for Dairy Excellence is once again offering free copies of Animal Care Protocol Record-Keeping Books to Pennsylvania dairy producers and veterinarians. With more than 3,900 books distributed to date, they have been created to help Pennsylvania dairy farm families comply with National FARM requirements associated with record keeping. One book should cover one program year for a smaller-sized herd. To request a free copy of the book, visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/request-book or call 717-788-0304.

“With the start of 2024, it’s the perfect time to request a copy of these record-keeping books to establish a good system for managing animal care efforts and protocols on your dairy operation. We continue to keep these record-keeping books updated over time as the National FARM program revises their requirements,” said Jayne Sebright, Executive Director at the Center for Dairy Excellence. “The books include a family cow care agreement, pages to help producers document standard operating procedures and treatments of their dairy animals, and more.”

Veterinarians and consultants can order free copies of the books for their dairy clients, and dairy producers can order copies directly for their farm. Blank, fillable protocol sheets and additional record-keeping templates are available on the National FARM website at www.nationaldairyfarm.com/producer-resources/herd-health-and-protocols/. The National FARM Program also requires that any family or non-family employee have a record documenting training in stockmanship, calf care, non-ambulatory, euthanasia or fitness to transport.

“The record-keeping books are great for dairy producers who don’t know where to start and like to have everything conveniently in one spot. It helps to be able to walk through it with the producer, and they can also walk through it with their veterinarian. It drives a little bit of consistency. There’s also a lot of great built-in information. They don’t have to come up with the protocols out of nowhere. It’s a huge benefit to give them the book and have everything captured that they can refer back to,” said Alyssa Snyder, a dairy field representative from Land O’Lakes.

The record-keeping books were compiled by the Center for Dairy Excellence, using resources from the National FARM Program, AllTech, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Mid-Maryland Dairy Veterinarians, and Valley Mobile Veterinary Services.

The National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management works to set the highest standards when it comes to animal care, workplace settings, and environmental and antibiotic stewardship. Created by the National Milk Producers Federation in partnership with Dairy Management Inc., FARM helps ensure the success of the entire industry by demonstrating that U.S. dairy farmers are committed to producing the best milk with integrity. FARM is open to all farms, milk processors and cooperatives and program components are guided by their respective advisory groups.

To request a free copy of the Animal Care Protocol Record-Keeping Book, visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/request-book or call Allen Hess at 717-788-0304.