One of the most important decisions will be which cows receive antibiotics, particularly given the rise of antimicrobial resistance awareness.
Inside Dairy
2 min read
Careful selection and preparation during dry-off are key to protecting your herd and ensuring milk quality in the next season.
As we approach the dry-off period, the focus shifts increasingly to protecting all cows from mastitis effectively and determining which ones should receive antibiotic dry-cow therapy (DCT).
Since 2016, we have collaborated with veterinary researchers to explore the selective use of DCT. We’ve identified the best outcomes for farms and used these results to help update SmartSAMM. In the coming months, we will share the latest insights with veterinarians, aiding discussions during your milk quality consultation.
When determining which cows should receive DCT, use all available information, including clinical cases, sore teats and other health records, to assist in decision-making. If a cow has been treated for clinical mastitis within the past 12 months or has damaged teat ends, she is a good candidate for DCT.
Several tools are available to determine the potential candidates for DCT, and your vet can help develop the plan.
At dry-off, DCT should only be used for cows showing signs of infection or those classified as high risk, including cows that:
Cows that don’t meet these criteria can be protected with ITS alone.
Also, consider how often a cow has been treated for mastitis or other diseases and decide if she should be on the cull list.
Over the past 25 years, research indicates that herd-test individual cow somatic cell count (SCC) results remain an effective tool for selecting cows for antibiotic DCT. If a cow’s SCC exceeds 150,000-250,000 cells/mL in any of her last four herd tests within the lactation or at a test within the last 80 days of drying off, she could benefit from DCT.
For cows not receiving DCT, using internal teat sealant (ITS) can provide valuable protection during the dry period.
To increase the chances of a successful dry-off, consider how good management practices and nonantibiotic alternatives can play a key role alongside proper administration techniques. Ensuring your team is up-to-date on training and ordering sufficient products well in advance can help things run smoothly.
Drying off cows in manageable batches and timing it to avoid rain reduces risks and promotes better outcomes.
This article was originally published in Inside Dairy February-April 2025.
