Mixed messages from "experts"?

[Sid]

I always find a longer dry period helps high ssc cows

With or without dc tubes?

 

[multi power]

With or without dc tubes?

With tubes but I wouldn't be surprised if they cured just as well without tubes. Time is a great healer

 

[jondear]

With tubes but I wouldn't be surprised if they cured just as well without tubes. Time is a great healer

Your wright but farmers are to scared to gamble to find out .You never know if they will self heal .Because you'll get penalised if not perfecly cured by the time they calve in again.

 

[Bruce Almighty]

With tubes but I wouldn't be surprised if they cured just as well without tubes. Time is a great healer

I would say more likely on a lower input system than medium to high ?

 

[bovine]

With tubes but I wouldn't be surprised if they cured just as well without tubes. Time is a great healer

The evidence is quite strong that antibiotic tubes significantly increase cure rates of infected quarters. There is very little 'cure' going on in the middle of the dry period. Once you have 6+ weeks then I very much doubt longer will increase cure significantly. I am a fan of drying off individual infected quarters to protect herdmates.

 

[Stinker]

The evidence is quite strong that antibiotic tubes significantly increase cure rates of infected quarters. There is very little 'cure' going on in the middle of the dry period. Once you have 6+ weeks then I very much doubt longer will increase cure significantly. I am a fan of drying off individual infected quarters to protect herdmates.

What is the best method to use when drying off an infected quarter?

 

[bovine]

What is the best method to use when drying off an infected quarter?

During lactation? Just stop milking it. You can't safely use any antibiotic. If it needs treating then give a course of tubes, keep milking until withdrawal done and then stop milking.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

I 3/4 a cow with a teat sealant now a days, stops them running milk all over the place.

 

[bovine]

I 3/4 a cow with a teat sealant now a days, stops them running milk all over the place.

Interesting idea. I've always got people to tube all 4 1/4's at dry off with antibiotic and seal. Do you still do that?

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Interesting idea. I've always got people to tube all 4 1/4's at dry off with antibiotic and seal. Do you still do that?

Yes strip out, antibiotic and re-seal.
Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't but you get that any way

 

[bovine]

Might 'borrow' that idea. Thanks

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Might 'borrow' that idea. Thanks

Tell them to CLEARLY identify the cow and quarter, accidental milking will mean starting again.

 

[bovine]

Tell them to CLEARLY identify the cow and quarter, accidental milking will mean starting again.

It will - but then I've had people stick a dry cow tube in and think it will be fine..................

 

[More to life]

I've had quarters dry for say six weeks stripped them by mistake and found them to be good so started milking them again cells have been fine milk really picks up. This happens quite often say in 5-10% of cases but the odd one will also go wrong blown quarter.

 

[bovine]

There was a trend a few years ago called the 'mini dry period' where you stick a tube in and don't milk for 7 days then bring back into production. I'm not sure if anyone is still doing it. Showed promising results.

 

[More to life]

There was a trend a few years ago called the 'mini dry period' where you stick a tube in and don't milk for 7 days then bring back into production. I'm not sure if anyone is still doing it. Showed promising results.

Not that but I have tried it and it worked well but I have never been able to explain to my men some one always milks the quarter. I would try it again if I had a longer stretch of just me milking.

 

[Sid]

Not that but I have tried it and it worked well but I have never been able to explain to my men some one always milks the quarter. I would try it again if I had a longer stretch of just me milking.

Oh the joys of employed staff!