Getting on top of mastitis

[llamedos]

As suggested by @jade35 A thread to discuss Mastitis control.

Some useful links

AHDB Dairy Mastitis Control Plan

The Plan
The AHDB Dairy Mastitis Control Plan is a proven, structured, evidence-based, nationwide approach to mastitis prevention and control in dairy cattle. It is a cost effective solution and supports both good animal welfare and the consumer image of dairy farming.

Trained vets and consultants, also known as Plan Deliverers, use farm-specific information, such as milk records, clinical records and on-farm questionnaires, to identify the main factors contributing to mastitis on farm. All this information is brought together to produce a farm-specific set of practical recommendations.

It is important to understand that the reduction in cows with clinical mastitis, does not happen purely because the herds were put on the AHDB Dairy Mastitis Control Plan. Compliance and a willingness to change management practices and other areas of the farm, if needed, are essential. Studies show that the greater the level of compliance with the recommendations produced by the plan, the better the effect on overall mastitis incidence.

A farmer guide to the plan and recent case studies are available to download. See More http://www.mastitiscontrolplan.co.uk/what-is-the-plan

Taking Aseptic milk samples
http://dairy.ahdb.org.uk/resources-...e-taking-an-aseptic-milk-sample/#.VwJnoG5vEnV
http://dairy.ahdb.org.uk/non_umbraco/download.aspx?media=15831



If any members have other useful links they wish to be included in this Opening post please pm me or @jade35

 

[Happy at it]

This is a silly question coming from a dairy farmer but how do you, or can you ever really sort it out within a herd of cows. I have had far to many cases this winter, can't get it sorted. Beds done with lime, machine serviced etc but no improvement.

Strange type of it too, cows in the past few days with slightly hard quarters, ok for a day then milk turns creamy, then quarter gone. Using tetra delta and tylan for each case, having no impact at all. Marbox also no use.

Any advice or techniques that work for you's for treatment or prevention would be appreciated....

 

[rjs15t]

Cluster dipping/flushing between cows?

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

Has something changed? Staff, milking, beds being swept properly and being bedded up properly? Scraping up being done / scraper knackered, auto scraper not running right etc? More cows in same shed space?

 

[Bruce Almighty]

Have you had any bacteriology tests ?

Is it environmental strep uberis ?
Is it cow to cow staph aureus ?
Is it E. coli ? Would pen strep be more effective ?

What does your vet think ?

 

[glow worm]

Same as all of the other replies starting with when did current problem start? Did u have no problem before? If new, whats different. Does it coincide with any change or a particular cow calving in. Staff all wear gloves? Calving area? Any pattern in stage of lactation? Liners changed? Majority same quarter, pointing to cross contamination? Vet tests and their observations of facilities and milking routine 1st step?

 

[Moors Farmer]

Have you had any bacteriology tests ?

Is it environmental strep uberis ?
Is it cow to cow staph aureus ?
Is it E. coli ? Would pen strep be more effective ?

What does your vet think ?

What Bruce said ^^^^^^^

Also. I'd recommend a dynamic parlour test done alongside the usual static test.

 

[Sid]

Why o why don't we learn. No disrespect to the OP but by using a tube with no bacteriological done in the milk your shooting in the dark and wasting your time and money.
Test the milk.

 

[Farmer Keith]

If after the bacteriology it turns out to be a cow to cow mastitis do you record? We had an issue about 3 years ago and a big part of getting it under control was recording where the high cells/mastitis was coming from, we culled repeat offenders off the back of this, problem is all of this stuff seems expensive in the current climate but it's worth getting sorted!

 

[Princess Pooper]

Testing to see what bugs you've got problems with.
Does your vet offer AHDB Dairy Mastitis Control Plan - it's worth going through the whole works properly.

 

[Sparkymark]

Cull any repeat offenders, they are spreading it to healthy cows.
Also since we crossbred our herd, we get very little mastitis. Pure Holsteins are more prone to it.

 

[jimmer]

cluster flush , cluster flush, cluster flush

i have scaled right back to dry wiping , and post spraying (which i dont think makes any difference) , but i am positive that cluster flushing has been the biggest and most significant part of reducing my cells by over 100 and as good as eradicating mastitis

 

[jimmer]

This is a silly question coming from a dairy farmer but how do you, or can you ever really sort it out within a herd of cows. I have had far to many cases this winter, can't get it sorted. Beds done with lime, machine serviced etc but no improvement.

Strange type of it too, cows in the past few days with slightly hard quarters, ok for a day then milk turns creamy, then quarter gone. Using tetra delta and tylan for each case, having no impact at all. Marbox also no use.

Any advice or techniques that work for you's for treatment or prevention would be appreciated....

when you say ''then quarter gone'' do you mean it dies off and she is in effect 3/4rd
creamy types or mastitis i put in the contagiously spread category , or at least i do here
if there is no leaked milk on the beds then the only other place that they can pick it up from another cow is via the liner
what are your teat ends like ?
dynamic parlour testing sounds whizzo but doesnt really tell you as much as it might lead you to believe

 

[Hotspur]

Will cluster flush do anything if it is environmental mastitis?

 

[Mr Mackay]

Had an outbreak of Staph Aureus , so with vet help ,we joined clover club to analyse cows and milk recording results
Pre dip with an iodine based one , wipe with individual paper towel , then dip with a thickish effective iodine based dip. Use a dip cup , better than teat spray. I use that for spraying the cows feet
. We have no cluster flush so jug dip with peracetic acid , after any cows that we know have high cells /mastitis . Pain in arse ,but well worth remembering to do , but as soon as you forget its asking for spread of bugs. Nice to have a cluster flush , I admit.
Cull problem cows or quarters . Use Nadins on beds .

 

[cornishfarmer]

Is peracetic acid still allowed with milk buyers?

 

[Fergieman]

Is peracetic acid still allowed with milk buyers?

Must be the safest chemical available. No residuals

 

[Beef farmer]

Is peracetic acid still allowed with milk buyers?

It's used in a lot of food plants.

 

[cornishfarmer]

It's used in a lot of food plants.

Wasn't sure if it was part of the quats that have be banned by DC and arla

 

[Beef farmer]

Wasn't sure if it was part of the quats that have be banned by DC and arla

Don't give them ideas.