Basic HTML Version
C A S E S T U D Y
SUMMER 2011 ISSUE
DAV I D B L ACK
Clover Cell Check is an early warning system for
mastitis infections across the herd and for individual
cows. The whole system is based on stopping cows
getting onto the escalator to high cell counts.
At North Scales, the Cell Check report
identified the dry period as being an area
on which to focus to reduce cell count. David
explains: ‘We looked at two aspects: the
cure rates - the cows that cured of mastitis
during the dry period, and also the protection
rates - cows going into the dry period with
low cell counts and staying low to milking.
‘Martyn had good protection rates but less
satisfactory cure rates. So we reviewed
the choice of dry cow antibiotic. Now,
one of two different products is used,
depending on the anticipated length of the
dry period, which on this farm varies from
35 to 60 days.’
All cows with chronic - clinical and sub-clinical
- mastitis are given a 60 day dry period to
allow the udder time to recover. Chronically
mastitic cows are also injected at drying off
with a systemic antibiotic. If at the first milk
recording they still show high cell counts, then
they may be given further treatment.
Orbeseal was already being used on the
farm but David checked that Martyn and his
family were using the appropriate technique -
gripping the top of the teat when administering
it so that the sealant stayed within the teat and
did not go up into the main udder.
The Cell Check report gives information on
individual cows, and bands the results into
a traffic light system of colouring, with the
aim being to have all cows in the green.
Each month a shortlist of problem cows is
also included, with suggestions on what to
do next.
Martyn says: ‘David's expertise in
understanding how the data relates to my
cows and my herd management policies is
a big part of the success of this service.
I do like to keep my cows in milk longer than
some. The report identifies those cows that
should be dried off, and David prompts me
to take action, knowing my habit.’
David adds: ‘For the more competitive, there
are also league tables showing the averages
of everyone on the scheme. Martyn likes to
work towards getting all cows into the green,
whilst other farmers are keener to improve
their position on the table!’
Martyn adds; ‘We've been using the Clover
Cell Check since 2008, and the cell counts
came down to less than 200,000 within the
first year. For a monthly cost of only around
£30, it had soon paid for itself. Now we
use it to monitor cows and prevent mastitis
infections getting out of hand.’
David reckons it takes six or seven months
to build up a pattern, and then identify where
the focus needs to be - initially looking for
the 'quick wins' and the cases that will be
economically beneficial to tackle.
Martyn adds: ‘The programme gives us the
opportunity to tackle the problem in bite-sized
pieces. Before, when we just had the
monthly NMR report, I'd be looking at data
from 280 cows in one go which is a bit
overwhelming when you are trying to work
out where the problems are.’
Recently, there has been a slight increase in
new cases of mastitis, and David and Martyn
are using the Cell Check report to pinpoint
where and why this is happening.
The Clover Cell Check service is available
to all XLVets farm clients through their local
XLVets practice.
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
12
Each month David and Martyn review the Cell Check results