Contagious mastitis is usually spread during milking. Milk from an infected quarter can be spread to the teat skin of other quarters and cows by dirty hands or gloves, teat cup liners, and cross flow of milk between teat cups. Hygienic practices at milking time help reduce this type of mastitis. Use good milking technique and a consistent routine.

Guideline 5 provides practical information on:

• Stockmanship to encourage milk let-down
• Foremilk stripping cows to detect abnormal milk
• The importance of putting cups on clean, dry teats
• Teat washing and pre-milking disinfection
• Establishing a calm, consistent routine for attaching cups
• Method for taking cups off
• Selecting an end-of-milking point
• Teat damage caused by over milking.

Technote 5 provides technical information for farmers and advisers on:

• Different types of bacteria that cause contagious mastitis, and the best ways to deal with them
• Other tests for detecting mastitis
• Ideal dairy water quality to enable hygienic practices
• Udder flaming technique
• Eliminating the practice of machine stripping
• Shorter milking times and Max T principles.