CASE STUDY: AYRSHIRE DAIRY

CURING
PARLOR BLINDNESS

How we helped a 250-head herd stop recording errors and speed up milking times with one morning of precision branding.

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THE IMPACT

The farm manager noticed the difference the very next milking shift.

0

Mistaken Identities

Relief milkers no longer guess numbers. The ID is unmistakable.

15%

Faster Milking

No time wasted wiping muck off ear tags to check numbers.

100%

Legibility

Brands are visible from the parlor pit, the crush, and the field.

THE PROBLEM

"WHICH COW IS THAT?"

This Ayrshire Dairy runs a busy system with multiple relief milkers. They were facing a classic issue: Ear tags getting covered in muck.

Staff were either wasting time wiping tags in the parlor or, worse, guessing the number. This led to inaccurate breeding records and cows being treated (or not treated) incorrectly. They needed a fail-safe system.

The R.C Adamson Solution

We brought in the liquid nitrogen tanks. By cooling the irons to -196°C and clipping the branding site down to the skin, we applied 3-digit herd numbers to the upper flank.

  • Precision Timing: We hold the iron just long enough to kill the pigment, not the follicle.
  • No More "Patchy" Brands: Our skin-prep ensures the cold transfer is perfect every time.
Ryan Adamson applying freeze brand iron to cow

Expert Application: The Difference Between Blur and Clarity

WHY IT WORKED

A bad brand is worse than no brand. Here is how we ensured success.

Liquid Nitrogen vs Dry Ice

Some operators use dry ice, which isn't as cold. We used Liquid Nitrogen (-196°C). This extreme cold creates a sharper edge to the number, meaning the "3" doesn't look like an "8" when the hair grows back.

Placement for the Parlor

We positioned the brands specifically for the farms parlor setup. We placed them high on the flank so they are visible from the pit, meaning the milker never has to climb up or wipe a tag to confirm ID.

BEFORE & AFTER

THE TRANSFORMATION

Before: The Guesswork

Tags covered in slurry. Relief staff guessing numbers. Mistakes in the medicine book.

After: The Guarantee

Bright white numbers visible from 20ft away. Zero ambiguity on which cow is in the crush.

Before: Lost Tags

Cows losing tags in hedges, leaving them unidentifiable until the next herd test.

After: Lifetime ID

The brand grows with the animal. It never falls off, never fades, never gets lost.

COMMON QUESTIONS

At this dairy farm, we processed the group efficiently. Once the cows are in the crush, the actual branding takes very little time. We can work through a large group in a single morning.
No. Freeze branding is low-stress compared to hot branding. The liquid nitrogen acts as a local anesthetic. The herd went back to grazing immediately and milk yields remained stable.
The white hair typically grows in within 6 to 8 weeks. However, the skin is marked immediately, so you can still identify them close-up while the hair grows in.
We bring the nitrogen, the correct irons, and the experience. 'DIY' jobs often result in patchy, unreadable brands because the temperature control wasn't right. We guarantee a crisp result.

READY TO GET IT SORTED?

Slippery yards and overgrown hooves don't fix themselves. They cost you money—in lame cows, vet bills, reduced yields, and culls you shouldn't have to make.

Book me in now to groove your concrete or balance your herd before a minor issue becomes a major loss.

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15+ Years Experience
Second-Generation Expertise
Serving 100+ Farms Across Dumfries, Cumbria & Ayrshire

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