Dairy NZ

Minimise the impact of early lactation mastitis

Calving period

• Removing calves from cows within the first 10-12 hours has shown to reduce mastitis
• Treat and record all clinical cases
• Add extra emollient to teat spray if teats are in poor condition
• Teat spray all colostrum cows after every milking
• Teat spray all lactating cows after every milking
• Check all cows for subclinical mastitis with Rapid Mastitis Test (RMT) and ensure all cows are milked out completely, before leaving the colostrum group
• Milk cows treated for mastitis last.

Lactation Period

• Teat spray after every milking to reduce the numbers of bacteria at the teat end and maintain good teat condition
• Add extra emollient to teat spray when teat skin condition is likely to be poor (e.g. in spring or wet muddy conditions)
• Monitor the milking machine and correct all faults
• Monitor the bulk milk somatic cell count for fluctuations. Spikes in bulk milk somatic cell count are an indication of new clinicals in the milking herd
• Strip herd at least once a week to check for new clinicals - spread task over two milkings to spread the load.
  

For more information, download or order the Spring Survival Guide here.