Level II Agricultural
Business Operations
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Shiny coat
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Steady breathing
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Bright eyes
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Body temperature
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Clear warm nose
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Normal behaviour
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Pricked ears
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Feed intake
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Normal faeces
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Milk yield
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Dull coat
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Laboured breathing
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Sunken eyes
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High/Low temp
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Runny nose
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On its own
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Droopy ears
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Off feed
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Diarrhoea
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Hunched
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Consumer perception
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Loss of production
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Welfare issues
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Loss of health status
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Antibiotic use / resistance
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Milk price
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Financial losses
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Sickness/death
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Inflammation of the
mammary gland
(udder)
Infection caused by
microorganisms,
mainly bacteria, that
invade the udder
Multiply & produce
toxins that are
harmful to the
mammary gland
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A healthy cow is essential to ensure a profitable
dairy business
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Mastitis is one of the main reasons for culling
cows in N. Ireland
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In an average dairy herd 25 out of every 100
cows are affected by clinical mastitis
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This session will look at prevention, treatment
and impact on health and welfare
Direct Costs
Indirect Costs
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Treatment
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Higher culling rate
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Your time
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Risk of fatality
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Vets time
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Replacement costs
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Discarded milk
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Reduced yield
Reduced herd
selection for other
weaknesses
Average: £177/case
Duct blocked by scar
tissue following mastitis
Gland
cistern
Teat
cistern
Milk secreting
cells
Single alveolus
Teat sphincter
muscle
Teat canal
Teat orifice
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Clinical Mastitis
◦ Visible change to the milk and/or udder.
◦ Cow may appear unwell.
◦ Can be either chronic, acute or toxic
(extreme cases).
Sub-clinical Mastitis
◦ Cow appears well - no visible changes to
milk.
◦ Observed through milk recording; SCC
>200,000.
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Examination of
foremilk before
applying clusters
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Check milk filter for
clots after milking
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Examine udder for
signs of heat, redness,
swelling
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Reduced yield
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No clinical signs of disease - high somatic cell
count (SCC)
SCC’s are mainly white blood cells that combat
infection
Increased numbers indicate the presence of
infection
Bulk tank SCC indicates level of sub-clinical
mastitis in herd
Detected by milk recording and California milk
test
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Contagious
◦ Caused by bacteria found on cow’s udder/teats
◦ Spreads from cow to cow at milking time, e.g. via
hands, clusters and worn liners
◦ Udder cloths can transfer infection
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◦ Milk high Somatic Cell Count cows last
Environmental
◦ Caused by bacteria in the cow’s environment, e.g.
cubicle bed and dung
◦ Bacteria transferred to teats/udder between milk
◦ Bacteria enters teat canal at milking
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Summer
◦ Affects dry cows and heifers
◦ Mixture of bacterial infections
◦ Quarter swells rapidly with thick yellow
foul secretion
◦ Irritation and kicking due to flies
◦ General illness
The Five Point Plan:
1.
Treat and record all cases promptly.
2.
Disinfect teats.
3.
Cull chronic mastitis cases.
4.
Use dry cow therapy.
5.
Maintain milking machine.
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Early treatment essential to limit spread
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Bacterial identification required for treatment
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Range of treatment options:
◦ Short or long acting intramammary antibiotics
◦ Injectable antibiotics
◦ Anti-inflammatory treatments
◦ Drying off
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Select appropriate treatment
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Milk out infected quarter
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Hygiene - disinfect teats & wear gloves
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Partially insert antibiotic tube into teat
canal and infuse contents
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Massage antibiotic into quarter
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Teat spray all teats
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Clearly mark cow
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Follow milk with-hold instructions
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Record details in vet medicine book
The only way to determine the actual level of
mastitis in the herd is to record incidence
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Record cases as part of daily management.
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Record cow no., teat affected & treatment
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Monitor to identify trends in cases, SCC, repeat
offenders, etc
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Benchmark and implement a plan for
improvement
If incidence of clinical
mastitis is high
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Identification of
invading organism
can speed up
treatment/cure
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Hygiene critical at
sampling
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One of the most effective mastitis control
measures, if done properly
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Pre milking disinfection can reduce the incidence
of environmental mastitis by 50%
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Post milking disinfection prevents bacteria
entering the teat canal until it is fully closed
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Cover entire length and diameter of teat
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Use a good quality teat dip product
Informed decision based on
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SCC
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Bacteriology
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Age
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Stage of lactation
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History
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Other e.g. Lameness, infertility
The aim is to .....
 Eliminate existing infection
 Prevent new infections during dry period
 Reduce incidence of post calving mastitis
 Reduce somatic cell counts
 Reduce incidence of summer mastitis
 Targeted use of antibiotics
 Consult vet re treatment
 Teat sealants
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Identify and fix problems early – Service regularly
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Replace rubber & silicone pipes if cracked/perished
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Change cluster liners every 2000 -2500 milkings
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Air filter should be clean
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Check vacuum level against parlour recommendation
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Air bleeds e.g. on clusters should be clear
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Monitor pulsation
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Ensure cows not over or under milked
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Farmer
◦ Keep hands clean
◦ Operate effective milking routine
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5% more milk
Teat health maintained
Transfer of bacteria
minimised
Early identification and
treatment of mastitis
Assess the following areas:
 Ventilation
 Cubicles - number design, dimensions
 Flooring – cleanliness, slippiness
 Cubicle bedding – type, frequency
Dry cow/calving pens cleaned and
disinfected regularly
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Udder hygiene at
grass is better if:
Roadways and
gateways maintained.
Avoid poaching
around water troughs
and gateways.
Use electric fences to
exclude cows from
heavily poached
areas.
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Promote cow cleanliness - clip tails, udders and flanks.
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Feed to avoid very wet dung
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Avoid rushing cows when moving them
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Pre and post milking teat spraying and dipping
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Avoid allowing cows to lie down for 20 minutes after
milking allows teats to close properly
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Milk cows with mastitis or high cell counts last
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Cow brushes improve cow cleanliness
Clipping tails & udders
Cow brushes
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Mastitis is an infection of the udder caused
by bacteria
Significant impact on herd health
Prevention is better than cure-promoting
cow cleanliness and comfort and
maintaining milking equipment will help to
prevent mastitis
The Five Point Plan is the foundation of any
herd mastitis treatment and control policy
What are the signs of lameness ?
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Uneven weight bearing.
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Nodding of head.
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Arching of back.
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Short strides.
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Slow walking speed.
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Lameness may be a problem on dairy farms
Welfare issue as animal suffers
Costly to dairy industry – loss of production &
treatment
A farm moving from average incidence of
lameness to top 10% will save equivalent to
1ppl
Can predispose animal to other diseases e.g.
mastitis, ketosis and infertility
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Direct Costs
Treatment
Your time
Vets time
Discarded milk
Reduced yield
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Indirect Costs
Higher culling rate
Extended calving
interval
Additional services
Increased incidence
of other diseases
Total Cost Of Lameness
Approx £4000 /100 Cows /Year
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Lameness causes pain
50 - 75% of cases are undiagnosed
Most lameness in outer claw of hind limbs
Identify cause by examination and trimming
Foot Conditions
 Sole Ulcer
 White line disease
 Laminitis
Skin Conditions
 Foul foot
 Digital dermatitis
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Calving
◦ Disrupts hoof horn formation
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Excessive standing
◦ Cubicle number and design
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Nutrition
◦ Feeding high levels of concentrates can lead to
laminitis and lameness
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General management
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◦
◦
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Wet hooves
Poor floor surfaces
Rough handling
Hoof wear/poor trimming
Treatment;
 Pare affected side so not weight bearing
 May need to apply shoe
 Remove any protruding tissue
 May need antibiotic
Prevention;
 Encourage increased cow lying time
 Ensure clean, dry and maintained floors
 Identify potential nutritional causes
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Bacterial infections
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Excessive time standing
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Wet hooves
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Contaminated environment
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Introduction of carrier animals
Treatment;
 Clean and dry lesion
 Antibiotic (topical and/or injection)
 Bandage – remember to remove/replace
 Footbath
Prevention;
 Footbath regularly - any antiseptic will do
(cheaper than antibiotic). e.g. Formalin
 Reduce time spent standing in slurry
1.
Mobility scoring
2.
Assess risk factors – Environment
3.
Nutrition & Breeding
4.
Foot bathing
5.
Hoof trimming
Scale 0-3
 0 = Not lame
 3 = Chronic lameness
 Regular scoring
 Early detection and
treatment
 Identification of
trends and causes
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Stocking rate in shed – 5% more cubicles
than number of cows.
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Flooring - rough or slippery.
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Scraping down - at least twice daily.
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Cubicle design and bedding.
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Lanes and yards
Grooved floor finish
Gives cow extra grip
Rubber flooring
Well bedded cubicles
Wide passages scraped
regularly
Clean Feet
Well occupied cubicles
Head to Head cubicles
Well constructed lane
Clean, smooth concrete
Nutrition
 Major changes in diet at calving
 High proportion of cereal in diet
 Rumen acidosis can contribute to lameness
Breeding
 Foot & leg conformation can affect incidence
 Foot characteristics are heritable
 Differences between and within breeds
 Foot colour suggested as having an effect
Dark hooves – less prone to lameness
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Purpose - washing, disinfection, hardening hoof
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Choice of product? Ask vet advice re problem
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Footbath for three consecutive days per month
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Clean feet before footbathing - double bath
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Cow needs three strides – min. 3 metres
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Depth of 100mm of solution, keep clean & top
up levels
Used to help reduce the incidence of clinical
lameness
Aim
 Restore original balance to the foot while
improving locomotion
 Detect hoof disorders before they develop
into more serious lameness disorders
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Carried out by skilled operators
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Reduces clinical
lameness
Restores original
balance to foot
Improves
locomotion
Early detection of
disorders
Carried out by
skilled operators
Claw after foot-trimming
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Lameness is a costly problem
Significant animal health and welfare issue
Early identification and treatment essential
Prevention is better than cure ◦ Regular foot trimming and bathing
◦ Pay attention to nutrition & breeding
◦ Suitable environment, clean housing and
well maintained surfaces