Video 19 How can we reduce the risk of clinical mastitis
What is clinical mastitis?
In simple terms, this is an infection in the mammary gland which causes clinical symptoms. These symptoms are usually associated with bacterial infections occurring in the quarter. These infections and subsequent inflammation result in the clinical signs we see. These clinical signs can vary from quite a local swelling and milk changes to in extreme cases very sick cows with toxic mastitis.
With this in mind, here are three areas to focus on as in the VIDEO above when thinking about clinical-mastitis
Here are some steps to look at clinical mastitis control
| 1. Hygiene score % of cows udders/teats |
This is examining the udders of min 25% of the cows examine how dirty udders are relative to what you’d expect. This may differ as regards indoors outdoors etc. look at the hygiene sheet to give you some help.
| 2. Hygiene score for cows legs backs hips |
This is an overall score of how clean cows are again 25% if the herd minimum. This should be assessed based on risk for the time of the year.
| 3. Hygiene score lying facilities of cows |
Indoors this will be a hygiene score of the cubicles, straw bed if cows are outdoors strongly advised to walk roadways to grazing platform assess wet and mucky areas. This will also take into account the ventilation and hygiene in sheds which is key to disease control.
| 4. Teat score and teat suppleness on teats rate, |
Look at teat ends aim for a score of less than 10% damage examine minimum 20 cows also examine teat suppleness here. If teat damage or teat skin dry and damaged we assess machine and also teat dips and emollients being used.
| 5. Hygiene score tails and udder hair. |
Look at risk from dirty hairy tails and very hairy udders. If these are a risk area some simple clipping hair syinging may help.
| 6. Do hygiene score for yard, roadways and collecting yard? |
This is looking at how dirty or big a risk the day in the life of the cow is. This can be indoors or outdoors, this will be important to look at particularly if cows score high risk on hygiene scores. Pay particular attention then to the bottlenecks that might be actions to improve. It is always good practice to walk and look through the eyes of a cow for 24 hours. See potential issues she may have.
| 7. Calving pen hygiene
Assessed again as a risk, pay particular attention if any history of toxic mastitis/E.coli mastitis in freshly calved cows. Look at numbers of cows to calving pens, drainage and bedding are big ones here. What are the cleaning protocols for calving pens?
· 0-10% spare capacity no risk, · <0-10% capacity medium risk, > · >10% reduction in capacity big risk cows lying in faces or excessive standing times Need to assess cubicle numbers per cow, this might be noted as a long term strategy? This will also have a huge impact on other diseases and cow performance on the farm. We can then look at cubicle design and bedding type for comfort and hygiene. |
| 9. If cows indoors look at the percent of standing cows (target < 10% this can be covered in detail in vet training). |
This will look at lying times of cows if lots of cows not lying down increased stress reduced performance. This is a good indicator of how effective cubicle design is (comfort).
| 10. Milking parlor hygiene and collecting yard hygiene.
Again this can increase the risk of exposure of udders and teats to bacteria. Water quality is something that needs to be checked in this. |
| 11. Milking time per day (target 2 hours a day) |
If you go over 2 hours a day then 2-3 hour medium risk over 3 hours high risk on extra standing time on cows more stress more pathogen exposure.
| 12. Standing time after milking
Not an issue if grazing but if feeding or cows lying down could be an important factor indoors, aiming for 60-90 minutes post milking. |
| 13. Teat preparation pre milking (how are teats washed cleaned dipped, if using predip check volumes here as well). |
Just rate the overall teat preparation, also measure the amount of teat dip used. If clinical mastitis issues and no teat dips used then maybe a short term control to manage mastitis.
It is also good practice long term, while it may take extra time it also aids milk let down and better milking routines.
| 14. Record keeping, recording clinical cases treatments |
Any cases of mastitis clinical cases recorded. Are treatments recorded? This can show up patterns on the farm around risk time’s example first 30 days. If the first 30 days are an issue then dry period management becomes essential.
| 15. Talk through drying of technique numbers, timing yields, etc. score or rate the risk |
This can be hard to do when not present but should be a conversation to have. Important questions any mastitis cases after drying off or looking at incidence in freshly calved cows which might indicate problems in the dry period. This about identifying risk areas so actions and accountability can be drawn up.
Check out the full progiene range in the link below
Thought for the day
Change is inevitable and we are probably going to see it happening at unprecedented levels in the next couple of years. It can also be a very uncomfortable thing for people. Those who adapt to change will always be in a better place. So embrace it and don’t be afraid of it.
Huge thanks to Nettex/Progiene in helping support me in making this series for more information click the link here http://www.progiene-dairy.com/chlorinedioxideteatdips/4xla%C2%AE