There is an enormous amount to gain from Dry Cow Treatment – provided the job is done well. Trying to hurry, or using inexperienced help to treat cows at drying-off is very risky and may prove disastrous.

If the teat end is not cleaned and sanitised, or the nozzles of the intramammary tubes are not kept sterile, or the teat skin is not disinfected, it is all too easy to introduce bacteria into the teat. To get the job done properly takes a concerted effort, especially if the cows are not used to having their teats handled. Good hygiene is also essential if you are using teat sealant because it has no direct anti-bacterial action. It prevents bacteria migrating up the teat canal after drying-off, but will have no effect against bacteria pushed up into the udder with the tube, if administration is not scrupulously clean.

Review your protocol and staff training for administration of intramammaries. Use the practical guide in the lift-out included in the May-June issue of The Australian Dairy Farmer, or use the Fact sheet in the Countdown Farm Guidelines (page 91) and get advice from your vet.

Operators need to be trained in the correct way of giving intramammary treatments. Without a well-planned routine, avoidable mistakes may occur at the time of Dry Cow Treatment, including injury to staff.

The Countdown Downunder Farm Guidelines for Mastitis Control says that a realistic goal for one person doing the job well is to handle about 20 cows per hour. This allows 3 minutes per cow to perform the following 7 steps:

§         Restrain the cow

§         Clean the teat ends and swab with alcohol

§         Administer the antibiotic Dry Cow Treatment or teat sealant

§         Apply freshly mixed teat disinfectant

§         Clearly mark the cow

§         Record the appropriate treatment details

§         Move the cow to an appropriate location.

It’s a good idea to limit the number of cows to be treated after any one milking, especially in seasonal herds.

Dry Cow Treatment is an essential component of mastitis prevention and control. It is important to set realistic targets for the time and effort that it will take to treat your herd. In terms of mastitis control on your farm – a job well begun is a job half done.

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"Ensure teat ends are swabbed before administering intramammaries"

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