How to effectively control mastitis in your dairy cows on your dairy farm

Mastitis reduces both milk production and quality. It is a complicated and costly problem. And there are no simple solutions.
But you can still prevent and treat Mastitis to a large extent.
Hi, I’m Ollie from Pasture.io, and today in this short video, let’s discuss the best practices of controlling mastitis from spreading in your herd.
Before that, let’s understand a bit more about mastitis.
Mastitis is a bacterial infection of the mammary glands in cows that enter via the teat and multiply in the udder, causing inflammation.
Staphylococcus aureus is the most common strain of bacteria that causes mastitis in cows. Streptococcus agalactiae is another devastating strain.
Mastitis can spread in two ways.
From other infected cows- cow to cow transmission and
From bacteria found in the surrounding soil, manure, bedding, water environments.
It’s important to control mastitis because, in the long term, it can damage milk secretory cells, resulting in lower milk yields. It can also cause significant pain and discomfort to your cows.
That’s why Mastitis is dubbed to be one of the costliest diseases that can affect dairy herds.
When it comes to controlling mastitis, there are no silver bullets.
Instead, you’ll have to take a wide range of precautions to
A, minimize the rate of new infections and
B, to reduce the duration of existing mastitis infections
Here are a few things you can do to control both these factors.
One, Disinfect teats before and after milking. This kills most pathogens that accumulate on the teats. Also, don’t milk chapped, cracked or bleeding teats or teat ends, as they may increase new infections.
Two. Provide a low-stress environment for your cows and heifers. As stress can play a big role in the health of your animals.
Three. Check foremilk with a strip plate or cup. Look for changes in colour, odour and any particles.
If you still have questions, leave a comment below or watch our video on how you can detect and identify mastitis early.
That wraps up our discussion on how you can control mastitis in your dairy cows.
I hope you enjoyed this video. And if you did, don’t forget to hit that thumbs up and subscribe button and share it with your fellow farmers.
Until we meet again, Happy Farming!
Blog article: pasture.io/farm-animal-health...
Website: pasture.io
How you can save money by detecting and identifying mastitis early on your dairy farm
video: • How you can save money...

[@user-nj1pv3qm4x]

Thanks 👍

[@pasture-io]

You're Welcome

[@oluwatimileyinolajire9421]

Thanks for the explanatory video.

[@pasture-io]

You are most welcome. We hope they serve you well.

[@monniara7504]

Thanks

[@pasture-io]

You're welcome :)

[@ajtheking7776]

Hi! i have always been told that keeping some milk in the cow causes mastitis and the reason for that is some cows do not release all their milk. I want to know if it's true and if it is what solution would you suggest. We usually press down on the milking machine ( the central area between the milking cups ) for any left milk that needed a squeeze to get out. That may not sound as the best idea but it worked for us but it is so time consuming and needs extra effort. Thanks in advance.

[@pasture-io]

Thank you for your comment and for sharing your practice. It's interesting to hear about different approaches. On my family's dairy farm, we use auto cup removers set to disengage when the milk flow rate drops below 600-800 millilitres per minute, intentionally leaving some milk in the udder. This method serves two key purposes: firstly, it quickens both the current and future milking processes without reducing overall milk production; secondly, and importantly, it helps in avoiding the issues associated with overmilking. Overmilking can lead to problems like teat end damage and increased risk of mastitis, as it puts unnecessary stress on the udder. By preventing overmilking, we aim to maintain better udder health and comfort for our cows. Different farms might adopt varying practices, but the overarching goal is to find a balance that ensures efficiency and promotes the wellbeing of the cows.

[@pemberaigogodo1173]

How are you sir .whats the best way to reduce somatic cell count

[@pasture-io]

Hey @Pemberai Gogodo the video has some great tips for "reducing" cell count. The bottom line is to deploy consistent and sound management procedures. You could work with your local veterinarian to help you develop standard operating procedures.

[@anwarzamzam7958]

The milk doesn't change the color but I see under the cow Something

[@pasture-io]

Hey @Anwar Zamzam, change of colour is one sign that a cow may have mastitis. Keep in mind that milk colour can be influenced by other factors such as breed of animal, fat %, stage of lactation, diet and so on. If you see something under the cow, be mindful to check that it is mastitis and not something else that is fine such as milk fat.

[@DiyaGusain]

What if our cows don't even let us touch it???

[@pasture-io]

Thanks for your question. It can be challenging, but using best practice livestock handling techniques to ensure the well-being of your cows and yourself is crucial when trying to examine and treat mastitis. You’ll need appropriate facilities. For immediate concerns, consult a vet for alternative methods.