Gippsland - How Now Gippy Now - March 2010 Edition
Six top tips for drying cows off
Many herds calve cows down in autumn and early winter to capture winter milk prices and the cows are fast approaching the end of their lactation
Listed below are some points for consideration to help you dry off smoothly without increasing the level of mastitis in your herd:
- Determine the number of cows you intend milking next season based on your current milker numbers, heifers to calve and those that may be culled due to chronic mastitis issues or infertility.
- From the cows you intend keeping for the next lactation look at their expected calving dates to determine when they need to be dried off to allow six to eight weeks rest. Cows with very high cell counts or in poor condition may also be dried off earlier than required just to improve overall herd well being (particularly if feed is limiting).
- Using individual cow cell count records from herd testing, where it is available, decide which cows need dry cow antibiotic treatment and those that may only need Teatseal to be used. It is recommended that an appropriate dry cow antibiotic be used on all quarters of cows with a peak ICCC above 250,000 cell/ml during the current season and all cows that have had a clinical case of mastitis in the current lactation. Cows intended for sale should not be treated. Cows with ICCCs lower than 250,000 may be treated with ‘Teatseal’ to prevent infections in the dry.
- Plan your drying off strategy, whether batches of cows will be done at certain times and how much dry cow treatment will be needed at those times. Place an order for dry cow antibiotic to be used with veterinarian. Discuss with the veterinarian the most appropriate antibiotic to use with your herd.
- Once dry off dates have been set, determine how you will reduce the herd production level if above 12 litres per day. You need to allow at least one week before the planned dry off time to reduce milk production levels to below 12 litres per day per cow. Once cows production has dropped below 12 litres per day she can be safely dried off and have dry cow treatment administered if required at the last milking
- .It is recommended that cows be milked as normal right up to the last planned milking. Skip a day or once a day milking may lead to increased cell counts and mastitis in the herd. Once dried off, limit transport and movement of cows, ideally move dry cows away from milking herd and the dairy shed.
To check best practice drying off strategies and how to safely and hygienically administer dry cow treatments, visit the Countdown Downunder website at www.countdown.org.au. Consult your local veterinarian for advice on the most suitable antibiotics to use for clinical mastitis control and dry cow therapy.
