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Agriland
07-06-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Being efficient and hygienic in the parlour during mid-season
Most cows will be served by now and a lot of first cuts of silage will be in, meaning that the pit of the parlour will be where most time is spent over the next few weeks. With peak milk production coming that bit earlier this year, farmers are focusing on holding solids production and grass quality, but as a lot of time will be spent in the parlour, a good routine to promote hygiene and efficiency must be considered. Most farmers will be set in their own ways when it comes to milking cows, but as it becomes the main task on the farm over the next few weeks, farmers should question whether there are a few tweaks they can make to improve milking for both the milker and the cows. We know that cows are creatures of habit, so having every day similar to the previous and the next is essential in order to have the cows at ease. Having a good milking routine should also be about making life easier for the farmer, as it should promote maximum product quality, safety for milkers and cows, and efficiency in time spent milking. Parlour routine It is important to make sure that the milking parlour is ready before the cows are rounded up, to avoid causing any unnecessary stress on the cows waiting to be milked. A clean milking apron should be used with disposable nitrile gloves to help stop the spread of mastitis during milking. Doing so will also protect against any zoonotic diseases, such as leptospirosis. Clusters should be attached to clean, dry teats. Some farmers strip each quarter before attaching clusters to check for mastitis and to stimulate milk let-down, but this can be very time-consuming. Keep a close eye on cows' udders as they come into the parlour and as you are putting clusters on. Strip quarters that you may be sceptical of, and carry out a California mastitis test (CMT) on cows that are off form or have a high temperature. Keep the pulse and milk tubes on the cow exit side when attaching the cluster, as doing so will allow for quick movement along the pit from one cluster to the other. Manual cluster removal should happen when there is only a single stream of milk visible in the claw piece, in order to minimise the risk of over-milking. Avoid causing air blasts when removing – turn off the vacuum by kinking the milk tube or by using the button on the claw piece. If you have automatic cluster removers (ACRs), ensure that they are in operating order. Teat spraying or dipping should be done as soon as possible after cluster removal, ensuring at least 10-15ml of the spray is applied evenly, covering all the teats, from top to bottom. Washing down should commence as soon as the last row of cows have left – having a standard operating procedure in place for both milking and washing down is essential in maintaining a clean, hygienic parlour. Do not forget that the milker is producing food and that the quality of this food is essential in sustaining and creating markets. Cow space Cow flow begins in the paddock or cubicle to the collecting yard, through the parlour and back out to the paddock or cubicles. Cow flow has a massive impact on milking efficiency and time spent in the parlour and is dictated by: cow roadways; facilities (collecting yard and parlour); and the milker. Roadways should be about 5m wide for 120 cows, with an extra 0.5m for every 100 cows thereafter. Roadways need to be wide enough for the number of cows with a good surface, to make sure that there are no pinch points or restrictions along the roadway. A farmer needs to ensure that the gathering yard can fit all of the herd, typically allowing for 1.52m2/cow, so cows are getting pushed and shoved, causing stress and potentially lameness issues. Where there is a backing gate in the gathering yard, ensure it is used solely to decrease the size of the gathering yard, rather than forcing cows into the parlour. It is easy to overlook factors like your milking routine at this time of the year, but as cows are at peak, you want to do everything in your power to make sure they hold that peak – and that comes down to environment, as well as nutrition of course. You also want to maximise your milk price during the cows' peak and having a high somatic cell count (SCC), total bacteria count (TBC) or thermoduric count is only going to deteriorate the price you receive per litre of product sold.
Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
HC upholds discharge of Haryana probationary judge: ‘deemed confirmation a perilous concept'
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the dismissal of former probationary civil judge (junior division) Ankur Lal, rejecting his plea against a decade-old discharge order over integrity concerns and unsatisfactory performance. The ruling, pronounced on Thursday by a bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, dismissed Lal's writ petition challenging the decision of the high court's Full Court, which recommended his discharge on July 23, 2012. Acting on these recommendations, the Haryana Government issued an order on December 4, 2012, terminating his probationary services. Lal had approached the high court through Civil Writ Petition No. 17822 of 2013, seeking to quash both the Full Court's recommendation and the discharge order. He had served as a probationary civil judge from 2009 to 2012, but his service record reflected multiple adverse remarks. These included a 'B-Satisfactory' rating in 2009–10, a 'C–Below Average' rating with the remark 'integrity doubtful' in 2010–11, and a 'B–Average' rating in 2011–12, during which the Bar Association of Ferozepur Jhirka submitted an anonymous complaint against him. The Administrative Committee had recommended that his services be dispensed with, a view endorsed by the Full Court and conveyed to the government, culminating in the discharge order. In court, Lal argued that under Rule 7.3 of the Punjab Civil Services (General and Common Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994, he was entitled to deemed confirmation upon completion of three years of probation, especially in light of available vacancies. The bench rejected this argument, holding that deemed confirmation requires both a permanent vacancy and satisfactory service—neither of which was applicable in Lal's case. 'There is no allegation of mala fide intent on the part of the authorities,' the court noted. Emphasising the importance of integrity in the judiciary, the bench observed in its judgment: 'The concept of probation is to enable the Employer to analyse the work, conduct and behaviour of the appointee… This power cannot be taken away… Deemed confirmation is a perilous concept in service jurisprudence…' 'If deemed confirmation is brought into play… then an anomalous situation would arise where the probationer, despite being unfit, is deemed to be confirmed, bringing into the service a Judge of doubtful integrity. This would be deleterious to the very concept of probity on which the entire judicial system stands,' it added. The court found no procedural irregularity in the discharge decision and ordered that Lal's Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) be returned to the relevant branch. With this ruling, the high court has reinforced the principle that integrity and performance during probation are non-negotiable in judicial appointments, and automatic confirmation cannot override a service record marred by adverse remarks.
United News of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
SC slams Navy for denying Permanent Commission to woman JAG Officer
New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court has criticised the Indian Navy for not granting Permanent Commission (PC) to Commander Seema Chaudhary, a woman officer from the 2007 Short Service Commission (SSC) batch in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch, despite clear directions given earlier by the top judiciary. A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh took serious note of the Navy's inaction, making it clear that the court's previous direction to 'consider' the officer's case could not be used as an excuse to avoid action. 'Enough is enough… we give you one week to grant her Permanent Commission,' Justice Kant stated sternly during the hearing. The case revolves around Commander Seema Chaudhary, who has faced prolonged legal battles and filed nearly five petitions seeking justice. Her counsel, Senior Advocate Rekha Palli, argued that while male officers are inducted directly into Permanent Commission, women officers are only taken in through Short Service Commission. She added that currently, there are no women JAG officers in the Navy. After reviewing Chaudhary's service record and performance reports, the court questioned why she was denied PC, especially when she was found fit in all respects. In defence, Senior Advocate Dr. R. Balasubramanian, representing the Navy, pointed to three Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) that included adverse comments. However, the court noted that these ACRs had already been overruled by the reviewing authority. Justice Kant also criticised the bias reflected in the ACRs, implying a male superior had unfairly assessed the officer's work. 'She was graded well in all parameters, and one officer's personal opinion cannot undo her service,' he remarked. The bench reminded the Navy that a 2024 Supreme Court order had already directed reconsideration of the officer's case under Article 142 of the Constitution. The court had ordered that Chaudhary's case be decided independently, as she was the only 2007-batch JAG woman officer eligible for PC. The judgment also permitted the Navy to proportionally increase the number of PC vacancies to accommodate her, ensuring that no other officer would be displaced and that this move would not set a precedent. Justice Kant reminded the Navy's counsel, 'This is not about ego. The 2024 judgment has reached finality. It cannot be ignored at the whims of authorities.' The petitioner alleged that her PC was being denied as retaliation for a workplace harassment complaint she filed against a male officer. A Board of Inquiry reportedly found merit in her complaint, yet she was transferred within a day of filing it, while the accused officer remained in the same post. On the request of Dr. Balasubramanian to seek further instructions, the court agreed to list the matter for further hearing in the first week of July. UNI SNG SSP
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Non-grant of permanent commission to lady officer: SC reproaches Navy action
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Supreme Court on Tuesday disapproved of non-grant of permanent commission to a 2007 batch Short Service Commission officer despite its observing that "enough is enough", a bench headed by Justice Surya Kant asked Naval authorities to shed their bench asked the authorities to consider the case of 2007 batch Judge Advocate Generals (JAG or legal) branch officer Seema Chaudhary within a week and grant her permanent bench told counsel appearing for the Centre and Naval authorities: "Enough is enough. Please mend your ways. We will give you one week to take her in for the permanent commission. Does the authority concerned think they can sit over the orders of the court? What kind of disciplined force are you?"The bench, after examining the minutes of the selection board and the annual confidential reports of the officer, asked why Chaudhary was not taken in the permanent commission when the authorities claimed she had attained all bench verbally remarked: "The authority concerned has to shed its ego. How can you say that she is fit in all aspects but still we cannot take her in permanent commission? There is a clear-cut finding of this court that her case has to be considered on a standalone basis. Then why was she not considered till now?"The counsel for authorities argued that though she checked all parameters, her three annual confidential reports (ACR) contained adverse remarks which couldn't be overlooked for the grant of permanent bench asked the counsel to furnish the three ACRs and said the remarks made by initiating officers were eventually overruled by the reviewing officer and final authority even accorded her the full 7.6 counsel said that the Navy did not have a closed mind and "she can be taken" upon a court direction. The counsel, however, sought time to take instructions on the matter. The bench posted the matter for orders after the court's summer break and said the 2024 judgement of the SC, passed in her review plea, had attained finality.
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Every principal, teacher will be held responsible for students who didn't perform well: Chandigarh Education Secy
A COMPREHENSIVE meeting with all principals will be held to review the Class X and Class XII board exam results, Education Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, said. Teachers with the highest number of students in the compartment or failed category will be required to attend the meeting and present an explanation. In a meeting on Friday, Prerna Puri, Education Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, highlighted the robust infrastructure and the presence of a well-qualified teaching community in government schools. In light of these strengths, she pointed out, there should be no reason for students to fail or be placed in the compartment category in the board exam results. 'Every principal and teacher will be held accountable for lapses, and at the same time, due credit will be given to teachers and principals whose students excel and perform well,' Puri said in a statement. The Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) of teachers will now include evaluations of student performance for accountability. Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) will be held on May 17 for parents of students who have a compartment in the board exams. Subject teachers will be present in these meetings to discuss the challenges of the students and discuss and plan the way forward with parents. Principals and teachers will review the results and begin extra classes for students to ensure that every compartment student clears the re-exams. The District Officer (DO) will prepare a detailed analysis of Class X and Class XII results, presenting the details of students who have passed, failed and have got a compartment, and these details will be categorised school-wise, area-wise, and subject-wise, to identify the gaps. It was also noted in the statement that despite clear instructions, not many teachers have yet adopted an adult learner, as this initiative is 'mandatory and compulsory'. Teachers who have adopted at least one adult learner were appreciated. It was further instructed in the meeting that teachers teaching only morning sessions must adopt at least one adult learner. Teachers posted in central sectors of the city will adopt an adult learner, and failure to adopt will lead to a recommendation for transfer of the teacher to peripheral area schools and assignment to teach evening sessions. Also, transfer requests will not be considered from teachers who have not adopted an adult learner, and those who do not adopt an adult learner will have a negative reflection in the ACR starting this year.
