 Cow
Parking – mastitis issues on host farms
In normal
times, Countdown recommends against exchange
of cows because animals from other herds are the most likely source of new
mastitis bacteria.
These are not normal times. Many
farms have generously offered space for cows from other herds. The challenge is
to identify and manage the risks that will occur.
You should concentrate on
mastitis control activities such as teat disinfection, maintenance of machines
and rubberware, and use a recommended Dry Cow Treatment program.
Here are some tips about how to
find a problem quickly if it does occur.
1.
Ensure that every clinical case is recorded and that you check levels
monthly.
- Review your method of finding
and permanently recording clinical mastitis cases and ensure that all staff
consistently use this method.
- Count the number of cases
every month. Set a specific task for one person on a specified day.
- If you have more than two
cases per 100 cows in a month, investigate.
2. If
new bacteria enter your herd, they may be less responsive to your normal
treatment protocol.
- Set a clear method of
recording whether cows go back in the vat after a full course of treatment.
- Expect a success rate of 70%
or more. If it is less than that, investigate.
3. Invest
in extra milk cultures. Collect milk samples from every mastitis case before you
treat it. These samples can be frozen and submitted for culture in a batch. If
the type of bacteria in your herd has changed, you may need to change strategies
for Dry Cow, or other mastitis control measures. Any culture of Strep
agalactiae is important. This is a very contagious bug. Even one positive
result in a previously negative herd requires prompt action.
4. Review your cell count
information – Bulk Milk Cell Counts daily, and Individual Cow Cell Counts
after every Herd Test. Don’t wait until the end of lactation to check if the
percentage of cows with a cell count over 250,000 at any test is rising.
“Investigate” should involve
telling your vet that you are monitoring mastitis closely because you are
milking cows from out of town. Nearly all dairy practices now have vets who have
completed Countdown training and can help you follow up warning signs.
Image: host_farms.jpg
Caption: Tell your vet if you are
milking “visiting” cows
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