Is mastitis preventable?

We cannot prevent 100% of mastitis cases, we can bring the % of new cases in the range of 1-5% of the herd per year. Udder health and milk quality are important to farm productivity and profitability. There’s a strong link between milking efficiency and preventing mastitis.

Step 1 of 8

Attention on these few aspects will bring down mastitis infections:

Step 2 of 8

<p>Animal health and immunity is important as healthy cows will fight off infections and they will not become clinical. But do note that if we wait for the cow to clear up the pathogen penetration by herself, we already have spike in somatic cells and a drop in milk yield.</p>

Animal health and immunity is important as healthy cows will fight off infections and they will not become clinical. But do note that if we wait for the cow to clear up the pathogen penetration by herself, we already have spike in somatic cells and a drop in milk yield.

Step 3 of 8

<p>Hygiene, both on the feedpad, and equally important is the hygiene of the milking area and the hygiene & routine of the people milking the cows. Less bacteria around the teats reduces the numbers of pathogens that will enter.</p>

Hygiene, both on the feedpad, and equally important is the hygiene of the milking area and the hygiene & routine of the people milking the cows. Less bacteria around the teats reduces the numbers of pathogens that will enter.

Step 4 of 8

<p>Scoring will help detect the percent of rough and very rough teat ends on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 being smooth with no keratin ring and 4 being a very rough keratin ring.</p>

Scoring will help detect the percent of rough and very rough teat ends on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 being smooth with no keratin ring and 4 being a very rough keratin ring.

Step 5 of 8

Focus on teat end condition! If the door is closed the number of bacteria entering the teat is much lower than when the door is wide open.

Step 6 of 8

<p>Poor teat end conditions are still very common. Hyperkeratosis in herds should always be less than 20% rough (score 3) and very rough (score 4). Target to have over 95% of teats in score 1 & 2 and closed after milking!</p>

Poor teat end conditions are still very common. Hyperkeratosis in herds should always be less than 20% rough (score 3) and very rough (score 4). Target to have over 95% of teats in score 1 & 2 and closed after milking!

Step 7 of 8

Effective teat-spraying is critical, killing bugs and keeping teat skin smooth and supple.

Cleaning dirty teats makes teat spray more effective.

Step 8 of 8

Things to do with the herd

Detect mastitis early by stripping the herd once a week in spring, but think about how to do this efficiently.

Score teat skin and teat ends once a month.

Ensure you break the vacuum on the milk liner before removing cups off the cow.