Finding mastitis
cases - to prevent spread to others
The
most effective way to detect clinical mastitis in freshly calved cows costs
virtually nothing but can significantly increase cure rates and prevent
infections occurring in other cows.
By
foremilk stripping (or forestripping) careful operators can identify early cases
of mastitis – at a time when the chance of cure is high and the risk of spread
to other cows can be managed. For these reasons the Countdown Farm Guidelines
recommend forestripping all quarters of all cows for at least the first 8
milkings after calving.
But
technique must be good. If done poorly, forestripping may contribute to spread
of mastitis between cows. Milk should never get onto the hands of milking
staff. Wearing milking gloves helps reduce the risk of spreading infection
during this procedure.
With
a little thought and practice, forestripping of fresh cows can be easily
incorporated into a milking routine. Milking staff should look for clots,
strings, wateriness or discolouration of milk. If this persists for more than
three squirts of milk the quarter requires treatment. Separate milking of these
cows will help reduce spread to others.
If
you don’t routinely forestrip, consider checking each freshly calved cow at
the beginning of her lactation.
Tips
on how to forestrip fresh cows:
- Wearing
gloves, squeeze the base of the teat between the thumb and the first two
fingers then pull gently downwards, avoiding getting milk on your hands.
- Strip
onto the concrete or a dark surface or strip cup, never onto your
other hand.
- Look
for clots, strings, wateriness or discolouration in the first few streams of
milk. Changes in the milk that persist for more than three squirts indicate
that a cow has mastitis that requires treatment.
- Repeat
this for each quarter.
- Quarters
with a few flecks only in the first three squirts may be left untreated and
checked again next milking.
- Wash
your gloves under running water and finally dip them in freshly prepared
disinfectant.
Image and caption:
"Foremilk
stripping is the most effective way to detect clinical
mastitis in freshly calved cows"
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