September 2010 edition
Mastitis control tips following the wet conditions
With many farmers using a feedpad or stand off area while their paddocks are recovering floods there have been increased reports of mastitis, here are some tips to help prevent infection.
Prepare udders before milking.
Although washing and drying udders before each milking is not a routine part of milking in many sheds, it is worthwhile preparing udders of all freshly calved heifers and cows. Taking a little extra time to clean and dry teats for the first few milkings helps remove dirt and bacteria picked up at calving.
Putting cups on clean, dry teats is an important element of mastitis control, so if you do wash udders, clean them manually using a low-pressure hose and DRY the teats using one cloth per cow. Disposable cloths, such as rewashable Chux-type towels, can be washed then rinsed in 200 parts per million chlorine and spun dry in a washing machine.
Use an emollient in the teat dip.
After milking, consider using a teat disinfectant that contains an emollient - such as 10% glycerine. Emollients soften and condition dry, chapped skin and will improve teat skin health. Healthy teats avoid the problem of having bacteria multiply in teat cracks and possibly passing through the teat canal and infecting the quarter. Dipping teats, rather than spraying them for the first few milkings, ensures good coverage of the whole teat surface and helps kill the remaining bacteria.
