Key Messages

• Mastitis in fresh cows is costly and disruptive

• Cows are at high risk of mastitis during the period approximately two weeks before to two weeks after calving

• The risk of mastitis can be markedly reduced by small changes in how calving areas are used and how fresh cows are milked

• Calving areas should be chosen and managed to keep them clean and dry

• A special milking routine for fresh cows is a small investment that can give large returns

• Teats must be clean and dry when cups go on fresh cows to reduce the chance of mastitis infections

• Cows are more susceptible to mastitis if they have swollen teats or drip milk before calving

• Milk from fresh cows must be withheld until it is suitable to go in the vat

Contents

1. Teat disinfection before calving – does it have a role?

2. Setting up calving areas for a mastitis-free start

3. Ensure milk is suitable to go in the vat

4. Prevent the calving-time curse of environmental mastitis

5. Special attention to milking fresh cows helps prevent mastitis

6. Finding mastitis cases - to prevent spread to others

7. Manage your heifers before calving to prevent mastitis

8. All the grabs in MS Word

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