P.D. Thompson

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

P.D. Thompson is a leading researcher in dairy science, with a primary focus on optimizing milking practices and improving udder health in high-producing dairy cows. His work addresses the critical challenges of managing modern, high-yield herds, where productivity and animal welfare must go hand in hand. Thompson’s most cited paper, “Milking the 30,000-Pound Herd” (1993, 18 citations), established foundational principles for milking cows producing over 13,600 kg of milk, emphasizing gentleness, speed, and completeness to minimize stress and machine-related damage. He further advanced the field with his development of a “Method for Assessing Teat and Udder Hygiene” (2008, 10 citations), which introduced a more reliable, quantitative approach to measuring bacterial loads on teat skin prior to milking. This method addressed significant variability in earlier swab-based techniques, providing dairy farmers and researchers with a standardized tool to monitor hygiene and reduce mastitis risk. Thompson’s contributions are essential for anyone studying dairy management, offering practical, evidence-based solutions that balance high production with sustainable, humane practices.