Consistency is key to completing many dairy farm tasks  Hoard's
Dairyman:   Consistency is key to completing many dairy farm
tasks  Mon, 05/28/2012   by Chelsey Johnson, Hoard's Dairyman
Editorial Intern  The workforce on a modern dairy farm is both
multigenerational and multicultural. Without training, each
employee will likely perform each task differently; therefore,
you need to provide clear instructions. In order to ensure that
tasks are done with uniformity, consider writing a standard
operating procedure (SOP) for tasks that require consistency.
An SOP is a documentation of the specific steps necessary to
complete a task. If taken seriously, an SOP can help your farm
improve uniformity and reach measurable goals.  Consider these
steps when writing an SOP: 1. Have a goal in mind. You must
identify the reason why an SOP is needed. For example, a milking
procedure SOP could be written to maintain a low somatic cell
count or reduce the occurrence of mastitis. Consider your goals
when designing your SOP. 2