Mastitis Control

Don Crowley, Tom Weldon Teagasc/Dairygold.

Mastitis Control/SCC Control

• Don Crowley B.Agr.Sc

• Tom Weldon B.Agr.Sc

• Joint Program with Dairygold Co-op.

• On-Farm Investigation

• Recommendations to Tackle problem.

Teagasc Dairygold Joint Programme on Milk Quality

Don Crowley, Tom Weldon & Ger McMahon

Goals:

• Reduce SCC & Mastitis

Method:

• Visit farm at milking.(800 farms visited)

• Analyse Records, Equipment and Practices

• Recommendations made.

• Usually 1 follow up call

Results (SCC) of Farms Visited ’07 vs’08

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

SCC<200,000 SCC>400000

SCC levels

Pe

rce

nt

2007 2008 24%

11%

27%

13%

Typical scenarios

• Scenario 1:

• A high cell count on a farm, but no cases of mastitis, using no tubes !!!

• Scenario 2:

• A farm with a low cell count, getting a lot of cases of Clinical mastitis and using a lot of tubes.

• Scenario 3:

• High incidence of E.coli mastitis.

Recent survey results:

• 65% of clinical mastitis cases occurring in the first 5 Days of Lactation.

• 5% in the second 5 days.

• 30% in the remainder of lactation.

Prevention is time well spent.

Mastitis2 Categories of Bacteria

• Contagious Bacteria:– Staph Aureus– Strep Agalactiae

• Environmental Bacteria:– E. Coli– Strep Uberus

Approach to Mastitis Problem

Assess the present situation• Farm Visit (at milking)

• Costs: Co-op fines, tubes, treatments, vet bills, milk lost, cull rates

• Labour, frustration

• Analysis of records(not always available)

Case Study - SCCFarmer A

14 Unit parlour, no ACR’s, 100 cows (30 Aut, 70 Spring)

1700 Gallon average, 23% Replacement rate

259

280

298

255

265

253

271

304

282

236

125

150

175

200

225

250

275

300

325

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

SCC

Case StudyObservations & Recommendations

• Milking practices observed:

• Cow teats scored for damage i.e. odema, congestion Hyperkeratosis 50% > score of 4

• Cow comfort and stress e.g. electrical issues

measured

• Milking machine tested

Case Study -Teat End Damage

Case Study Recommendations/Goals

• Stop over milking (Teat end damage).

• Stop spread of infection.

• Pre-spray & dry wipe,

• Disinfect clusters(between each cow) for 2 wks.

• Wear gloves

• Post spray all cows.

Yearly SCC '97 - '08

280 282

304

219

143

271

298

259

253

265

236

255

125

150

175

200

225

250

275

300

325

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Case Study - Financial Reward• Bonus = € 3,082.00

• Additional milk sales = € 4,500.00

• Reduced Vet and tube = € 1,500.00

• 3 cows not culled = € 2,200.00

• Reward = €11,282.00 pa

Main Mastitis Causes:

• Main cause

• Milking machine = 33%

• Milking practices = 33%

• Infection Control/Hygiene = 33%

Cubicle Bedding

Teat End Damage

Teat end damage

Teat end Damage