Successful drying off
treatment strategies
An
effective drying off strategy is the key to a mastitis-free start to the
lactation cycle.
The
best strategy for your herd this year may be different from last year. Changes
in management you’ve made because of the dry weather (such as culling cows or
taking in extra cows) may have affected the level or risk of mastitis in your
herd. There is also a new teat sealant product available in Australia.
This makes it a good time to review your plans for drying-off to ensure
you will use the most effective approach for your herd.
Treatments
at drying off are designed to address two different issues:
Curing
on-going mastitis infections
On-going
mastitis infections that have accumulated during the current lactation can be
cured in many (but not all) cows. About 20% of cows will cure as a result of
their own defence mechanisms. Three to four times more will cure if they receive
appropriate antibiotic Dry Cow Treatment.
Preventing
new infections that may occur during the dry period
Uninfected
cows are at risk of new environmental infections over the dry period in some
herds. These infections are usually seen as mastitis at next calving and in
early lactation. Until this year Australian farmers used antibiotic Dry Cow
Treatment to protect these cows. Now there is also a non-antibiotic teat sealant
alternative.
Three
basic drying-off treatment strategies are possible:
(1)
To treat the whole herd with antibiotic Dry Cow Treatment (Blanket
strategy)
(2)
To treat only infected cows with antibiotic Dry Cow Treatment (Selective
strategy)
(3)
To treat infected cows with antibiotic Dry Cow Treatment, and uninfected
cows with teat sealant (Combination strategy)
To
decide which strategy makes economic sense for your farm, you must assess the
level and type of mastitis in your herd. Your veterinarian can help with this
decision.
Image and caption
"Dairyfarmers
should review their drying-off treatment strategy with their vet"
Keywords
drying-off, Dry Cow Treatment, teat sealant
Word length
309
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