THE RAW MILK ROADMAP FOR DEXTER COWS
A Practical Guide to Clean, Controlled Raw Milk Production
by Michelle Parsley, M.Photog., M.Artist, Cr.
This framework outlines the system I use. It is not the only way to milk — it is the way I’ve documented and verified on my farm.
The full process is demonstrated in videos where applicable.
Where Responsible Milk Begins
When I first began milking our Dexter cows for my family, I wasn’t worried about hand milking versus machine milking, yield, or even getting kicked.
I was worried about raw milk safety.
You don’t have to look far to see alarming headlines about raw milk. Some of it is fair. Some of it is exaggerated. Sometimes raw milk becomes the convenient scapegoat. But none of those headlines answer the practical questions a small herd owner is really asking:
How do I know I’m producing safe raw milk?
Where do I even begin?
The learning curve was steep. Despite owning cattle for decades, I had never fully considered how herd health, equipment hygiene, temperature control, and milk testing intersect when milk is consumed raw.
I was overwhelmed.
I spent an absurd number of hours poring over research papers, piecing together a system that would consistently produce clean milk from our Dexter cows. During those weeks of agonizing research, I desperately wanted someone to take me by the hand and say:
Start here.
Test your cows.
Use equipment that fits.
Clean it this way.
Cool the milk like this.
I wanted a system that had been proven to work.
A roadmap.
Despite exhaustive searching, I couldn’t find one — so I built it.
The Raw Milk Roadmap is the system we use on our farm to reduce unknowns, steward herd health intentionally, and produce safe raw milk responsibly for our family and herdshare members. It does not promise perfection. It outlines processes that create consistency.
This is the mentor I searched for but never found: clear steps, practical standards, and tested systems that work whether you milk one cow or ten — and an understanding of the “why” behind each decision.
Whether you are milking in a dedicated barn space or cleaning in your kitchen sink, the principles remain the same. Only the tools and budget change.
If you are new to milking or ready to tighten your standards — this is where you begin.
The Seven-Step Raw Milk Roadmap
This roadmap is designed to prevent unnecessary expense and avoidable mistakes. It is not a collection of tips. It is a sequence.
Each step builds on the one before it and supports the one that follows. Strength in one area cannot compensate for weakness in another. Clean milk is the result of alignment — genetics, hygiene, cooling, and testing working together as a system.
Step 1 — How to Choose the Right Dexter Cow for Milking
Genetics, Structure, Temperament, and Testing That Set You Up for Success
Milk safety starts before the bucket is ever attached. This step anchors the entire roadmap in a simple reality: you can’t sanitize your way out of unmanaged disease. It explains why cow health is the first “system check” in responsible raw milk production, especially in small herds where you can be intentional and selective.
Start Step 1 — How to Choose the Right Dexter Cow for MilkingStep 2 — What Should I Feed My Milking Dexter Cow? Pasture, Hay & Grain
Milk production begins in the rumen.
This section walks through practical feeding strategy for small Dexter milk herds, including:
- Forage quality and seasonal management
- Protein requirements for milk production
- Carbohydrates for body condition and fertility
- To grain or not to grain
- Mineral needs for small herds
- Adjusting feed for lactation stage
- Managing condition in dual-purpose Dexters
Step 3 — How to Prep an Udder for Clean Raw Milk
Practical Hygiene That Reduces Contamination Risk
Status: In Development — Not Yet Published
What happens in the minutes before milking has measurable impact on milk quality.
This section will outline:
- Physical udder preparation protocols
- Teat cleaning and forestripping sequence
- Managing hair, debris, and environmental contamination
- Behavioral discipline of the milker
- Consistency between milkings
- Common hygiene mistakes in small herds
Raw milk safety is profoundly influenced at the source. Small, repeatable habits during udder preparation reduce bacterial transfer before milk ever enters a container.
Detailed preparation protocols and printable checklists will be added here as this section is completed.
Step 4 — How to Milk a Dexter Cow
Equipment, Technique, and Milk Collection Systems Explained
Status: In Development — Not Yet Published
Milk handling is where contamination risk either increases or is controlled.
This section will walk through:
- Hand milking technique that protects udder structure
- Bucket milker setup and vacuum stability
- Pulsation basics for Dexter cows
- Line cleanliness and sanitation sequencing
- Preventing contamination during collection
- Managing milk transfer from cow to container
- Common equipment mistakes in small herds
Detailed guides and equipment selection recommendations will be published here as this section is completed.
Step 5 — How fast should raw milk be cooled?
Time, Temperature, and Bacterial Growth Control
Status: In Development — Not Yet Published
Bacteria multiply according to time and temperature.
This section will define:
- Target cooling timelines after milking
- Safe temperature benchmarks for small herds
- Why rapid cooling stabilizes microbial growth
- Ice baths vs refrigeration vs bulk tanks
- Agitation and thermal equalization
- Storage temperature consistency
- Common cooling mistakes in home-scale systems
If herd health is the foundation, rapid cooling is the stabilizer. Without disciplined temperature control, even clean milk can deteriorate.
Detailed cooling benchmarks, monitoring methods, and practical setup examples will be added here as this section is completed.
Step 6 — How to Clean Milking Equipment Properly
A Sanitation System for Consistent, Safe Results
Status: In Development — Not Yet Published
Sanitization is not the same as rinsing.
This section will define a repeatable cleaning system for small-scale milking operations, including:
- Proper wash cycles and sequencing
- Water temperature requirements
- Chemical selection and concentration control
- Acid vs alkaline wash cycles
- Air drying vs towel drying
- Disassembly and inspection protocols
- Preventing biofilm formation
- When and how to deep clean
Effective sanitation is a system — not an occasional reset. Milk quality and testing consistency depend on disciplined cleaning practices performed the same way every time.
Detailed wash protocols, dilution guides, and printable cleaning checklists will be added here as this section is completed.
Step 7 — How to Know if Your Raw Milk is Safe
Testing Protocols, Monitoring, and Interpreting Results
Status: In Development — Not Yet Published
Testing is verification — not reassurance.
This section will define:
- What common raw milk tests actually measure
- SPC, coliform, and pathogen screening explained
- What testing can and cannot tell you
- Sampling technique and handling
- Establishing baseline herd numbers
- Monitoring trends over time
- When results require intervention
- Building a feedback loop into your system
Testing is the feedback mechanism of the entire roadmap. Without monitoring, you are operating on assumption. With monitoring, you are operating on evidence.
Detailed test explanations, threshold guidelines, interpretation examples, and printable monitoring logs will be added here as this section is completed.
