The CVM Staff Council is excited to spotlight the Quality Milk Production Services (QMPS) team in the May 2019 edition of CVM eNews. Quality Milk Production Services has been part of the College of Veterinary Medicine since 1946, and part of the Animal Health Diagnostic Center since 1986.  Formerly known as the New York State Mastitis Control Program, Quality Milk Production Services is world renowned for the unique services it provides dairies throughout the United States and beyond.  We had a chance to sit down with members of QMPS to learn a little more about the amazing services they provide to the dairy industry.

Staff Council: What does Quality Milk Production Services do?

QMPS: QMPS serves the dairy industry of New York State by promoting the production of high quality milk through the control of mastitis, and the avoidance of antibiotic residues in milk through field and laboratory diagnostic evaluations and recommendations.

Staff Council: What other services does your group offer?

QMPS: QMPS offers a wide variety of services, notably on-farm evaluations of management and equipment, and whole herd milk cultures. Additionally, we offer bulk tank monitoring, a laboratory proficiency testing program, farm surveys, parlor efficiency evaluations, language services, and a host of consultative services. Our mission is to meet the needs of producers, veterinarians, and the dairy industry through on-farm service, diagnostics, education, and research. We are a science based organization utilizing the most effective methods and technology to help producers improve dairy product quality and safety. Our work contributes to consumer confidence in the dairy industry. We accomplish our goals through an environment that encourages teamwork and continuing education.

Staff Council: Could you tell us more about your team?

QMPS: Our team is comprised of 35 members, with extensive dairy knowledge, spread across four laboratory sites.  Having labs located in Central (Ithaca), Eastern (Cobleskill), Northern (Canton), and Western (Warsaw) New York provides us the ability to service dairies located throughout the state.  Our team is made up of professors, senior extension associates, senior research associates, extension associates, research associates, extension aides, administrative assistants, and technicians.  Each member plays an important role in the program.

Staff Council: What types of research does your team perform?

QMPS: We perform a wide range of research, typically epidemiological studies aimed at furthering the dairy industry’s understanding of mastitis. Our goal is to improve milk quality on the farm by offering contract services to product development companies, ultimately resulting in more effective and diverse products for use by producers and veterinarians. In addition to contract services to companies, we also provide these services to federally funded programs, programs funded by the dairy industry, and nongovernmental organizations, to name a few. Our team does everything from trial design, to conducting the research, to statistical analysis, to reporting and authoring peer-reviewed publications.

Staff Council: Part of your mission includes education, could you tell us more about this?

QMPS: Education is a large part of our program. Our faculty members are part of the DVM curriculum and teach courses throughout the length of the degree. We also provide training for PhD students through our program. Additionally, we offer continuing education courses for veterinarians and industry partners.

Staff Council: It sounds like you are doing amazing things for the dairy industry! What are some of the most interesting things you have learned about cows from working with QMPS?

QMPS: We are learning new things every day.

• “In a pen of hundreds of cows, the jersey will be the first one to notice you.”
• “Cows do not like changes to their routine.”
• “A cow can see almost 360 degrees. A near-panoramic view which lets them watch for predators from all angles. However, they don’t see well straight in front of them so they will typically turn their head to look at you.”
• “We should leave a little more milk in the udder at the end of milking.”
• “Cows are actually very sweet and curious.”
• “Baby cows are called calves, not baby cows.”

Staff Council: I assume you like ice cream, so what are your favorite flavors?

QMPS: We do like ice cream.

• “The flavors that Ben & Jerry’s make.”
• “I love all ice cream!”
• “I love chocolate ice cream.”
• “Cherry Garcia.”
• “Basic chocolate swirl….yummmm.”
• “Black cherry.”
• “Panda Paws, obviously.”
• “My favorite is definitely classic strawberry.”

Staff Council: Here is a silly question, what is your spirit animal?

QMPS: Surprisingly, not everyone that works for QMPS has a cow as their spirit animal.

• “Definitely a koala.”
• “Tiger for sure.”
• “Definitely a meerkat, because Hakuna Matata.”
• “A monkey.”
• “Cow.”
• “A combination of Scrat (the squirrel) from Ice Age and Dug (the dog) from UP.”

Staff Council: What do you love most about your position with QMPS?

QMPS: We all appreciate something a little different. 

• “Direct interaction with the dairy industry, veterinarians, and farmers leading to tangible, real-world impact.”
• “It is interesting, even after many years working with the dairy industry. I enjoy going to the farms and getting to know the producers and managers; I enjoy helping them reach their goals.”
• “I get to work with a great team to help dairy farmers improve udder health and milk quality.”
• “I love the variety each day brings.”
• “I love the flexibility and variety, it is far from just lab work. I love the challenge of research.”
• “Being able to work with an amazing group of people that care deeply about the cows.”  
• “I get to do A LOT of different things. I really enjoy working in the lab, but I also like being able to get out of the lab during the courier route, and meet a lot of great people in our dairy community.”

Staff Council: Could you tell the College community something they do not know about QMPS.

QMPS: QMPS is multifaceted.  

• “Our daily in-person, phone, and email interactions with farmers, herd’s people, milkers, and veterinarians makes us unique. Without these interactions to help improve the dairy industry we are just a testing lab. And seeing the calves, lambs, and goat kids just makes our day.”
• “Our team works seven days per week to provide farms with culture results.”
• “The work being performed by QMPS is positively impacting the cows, consumers, and environment.”

Staff Council:  Thank you, Quality Milk Production Services, for being our CVM Staff Council’s May 2019 Spotlight!  To learn more about the Quality Milk Production Services, or the Animal Health Diagnostic Center, please visit their webpages listed below.

Animal Health Diagnostic Center: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/animal-health-diagnostic-center

Quality Milk Production Services: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/animal-health-diagnostic-center/programs/quality-milk-production

Do you have ideas or suggestions for an upcoming Spotlight? Email us at cvmstaffcouncil@cornell.edu!  

Look for our June Spotlight with the Accounting Service Center!