As the recent wet weather in southern Australia has shown, wet periods can come upon us very suddenly.  Wet conditions certainly increase the risk of mastitis infections causing a flare up of clinical cases. 

Whilst it is easy to assume that the risk is all, or mainly, due to environmental bacteria and that the wet environment is the likely source of infections, this is only partly true.

Indeed these conditions see an increase in the risk of mastitis infections by nearly all the common mastitis-causing bacteria as well as a number of environmental bacteria.

Whilst it is impossible to completely avoid the increased risk, some strategies can be put in place to substantially reduce that risk. Some of these strategies require some forethought and planning, whilst others revolve around changes that can be made in a response to the weather and on farm conditions.

Key Messages

·        Infections that develop during wet weather are not all due to environmental bacteria. A wet environment also increases the risk of mastitis infections by nearly all the common mastitis-causing bacteria as well.

·         Mastitis risk is a numbers game - greater numbers of bacteria near the teat end increase the risk of infections occurring

·         Maintenance of healthy teat skin and teat ends is a key to reducing the risk of mastitis in wet weather

·         The risk can also be reduced by some simple changes to milking management to reduce exposure to contamination, and maximise the effectiveness of teat disinfection

Contents

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