Testing and Services
Quality Milk Production Services offers a variety of testing and services provided by experts dedicated to the health of your farm and in support of New York state.
Services and Fees
| Item | New York State | Outside of New York |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk Tank Monitoring Program | $300 | $400 |
| Consulting fee/hour | $125 | $156 |
| Technician fee/hour | $88 | $104 |
| Herd Survey (=< 57 cows) | $115 | $135 |
| Herd Survey (>57 cows) | $2.50 | $3 |
| Cancellation fees | $73 | $83 |
| Bilingual fee/hour | $115 | $140 |
| Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program | $275 | $275 |
| Accession fee | $2.50 | $2.75 |
| Referral fee | $20 | $25 |
Description of Services and Fees
Automated Pathogen-Based Mastitis Therapy
The treatment of mastitis caused by certain bacteria is not improved by antibiotic therapy, so
not treating those cows will decrease antibiotic use, decrease hospital days, and decrease milk withheld from sale. In addition, treatable cases are not negatively affected by waiting approximately 24 hours to start therapy. You need a reliable method to know what bacteria are likely associated with a MAST event to make this decision.
- Study conducted on commercial dairy to compare blanket mastitis therapy to pathogen based treatment
- Treatment of cows with mild to moderate clinical signs (85% of cases)
- Abnormal milk and/or inflammation of the udder
- Systemically sick cows treated according to farm protocol
- Pathogen based treatment delayed treating cows for 24 hours and only treated environmental Streptococcus and Staphylococcus
- Blanket therapy treated all cows at diagnosis of mastitis independent of organism
- Pathogen based treatment equates to a $30 savings/cow on an annual basis – including sampling/processing fees
Bilingual Fee
- Two-hour milker training course to educate workers about the reasons for the many practices on dairy farms
- Given in Spanish and focuses on farm-specific management
- Almost any topic related to dairy management can be covered
Bulk Tank Monitoring Program
- Monitors milk quality and herd health through six bulk tank samples over 12 months
- Samples are collected via milk hauler or cooperative—no shipping required by the producer
- Each sample is tested for key pathogens like Strep ag, Staph aureus, E. coli, Mycoplasma, and others
- Reports include totals for streps, staphs, and coliforms; DHI data may be integrated when available
- Helps detect trends early, providing a cost-effective alternative to individual sample testing
- Reports can be shared with vets, inspectors, or herdsmen at the producer’s request
- To enroll, contact Chelsea Koelbl at 518-255-5681 or ccb82@cornell.edu
Cancellation Fee
A cancellation fee is applied if on-farm services are not cancelled within 48 hours of service.
Consulting Fee/Hour
- Comprehensive range of on-farm consulting services to support herd health, milk quality, on-farm culture training and parlor efficiency
- Delivered by experienced veterinarians, consultants and technicians
- May include analysis of lab testing and/or multiple visits as needed
Dry-Off Evaluation
New intramammary infections during the dry period continue to be a major concern and proper execution of DCT steps is essential. A recent QMPS study revealed significant deviations from key procedures in administering antibiotics and teat sealants. The dry-off evaluation focuses on dry-off sessions to identify common errors, provide feedback and enhance udder health for dry and fresh cows.
Equipment Cleaning and Evaluation Service
An analysis of wash system based on NMC guidelines
Extension Survey
- Includes equipment testing, housing assessment, and mastitis management review
- DHIA data integration available
- Report includes actionable recommendations for producers and veterinarians
- Designed to provide targeted, efficient support for maintaining udder health
Herd Survey
- Full on-farm assessment focused on udder health and milking management
- Includes evaluation of milking equipment, housing, dry animal care, and mastitis protocols
- Designed for herds with active mastitis control efforts or ongoing mastitis issues
- May include Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) data for deeper insight
- Report includes actionable recommendations for producers and veterinarians
- Helps identify root causes and guide effective mastitis prevention strategies
- Composite or quarter samples collected from lactating cows
- A 5% discount may be applied to the total if paid for at the time of service
Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program
- Provides external quality assurance for diagnosing intramammary infections in veterinary labs
- Designed for large and mixed animal veterinary practices
- Participants receive quarterly kits with milk samples, forms, and a follow-up report
- Samples contain mastitis-causing pathogens to help improve diagnostic skills over time
- Participants identify pathogens, document results, and submit findings within two weeks
- QMPS reviews results and offers feedback and training on incorrect identifications
- Certificate of Participation awarded to all participants
- Call 1-877-645-5524 to enroll
Parlor Efficiency
- Improve milking efficiency without compromising milk quality
- Analyze key metrics like cows milked per hour and milk yield per unit
- Aim for 4–5 side changes/hour in a double-12 parlor (~96 cows/hour)
- Ensure efficient routines while maintaining proper udder prep
- Identify improvements through on-farm evaluations
- Boost throughput, lower labor costs, and maintain product excellence
Super Milk Program
Celebrating excellence in dairy
- Honors NY dairy farms that consistently exceed milk quality standards
- Farms must have a somatic cell count ≤150,000 in at least 10 of 12 monthly tests
- Nominations are submitted by milk inspectors by March 1 each year
- Recognized farms follow strict milking protocols and maintain healthy, clean cows
- Joint effort by QMPS and the Empire State Milk Quality Council (ESMQC)
- Supported by the dairy industry to promote excellence through education and recognition