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F A R M S K I L L S
Sophie Throup
FarmSkills Manager
FarmSkills recently ran a series of Environmental Mastitis workshops supported by Virbac to
raise awareness of how to manage mastitis problems on the dairy farm.
All the workshops were highly practical and participative in nature and helped delegates
define mastitis, name the principal causes of mastitis, calculate its economic cost and
appreciate the welfare costs associated with not managing the problem effectively.
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
15
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
Environmental Mastitis
workshops
Wendy van Winden from Penbode Vets
in Holsworthy, Devon, ran three mastitis
workshops for her clients, which were also
part of the SWHLI programme of farm
education and training.
Wendy comments: The DairyCo Mastitis Plan
identified a variety of issues on the farms
taking part in the SWHLI mastitis strand.
We also found that a common problem was
that most farms used several milkers and
stockmen, who were not all equally aware
of the impact they had on the spread of
mastitis. A series of three FarmSkills
workshops were organised for them focusing
on environmental mastitis, contagious mastitis
and milking machine faults. The workshops
were held on different farms and illustrated
real life issues, providing food for thought
and stimulating a lively discussion.’
Jonathan Statham from Bishopton Vets
trained one group of delegates on farm in
Ripon as part of their FarmSkills Dairy
certificate. Using smoke bombs and humidity
meters to test building ventilation and working
with the delegates to calculate the effects
on stocking rates on housing, the group
developed an action plan to deal with
mastitis control which will be a useful part
of their herd health improvement plan.
Jonathan Statham: ‘With recent research
suggesting that reductions in incidence of
around 20 per cent were achievable with
appropriate intervention, being on top of
managing your environment is a key part
of a stockman's job. The FarmSkills
environmental mastitis workshop helps open
farmers’ minds to all the different areas on
a farm that can affect this problem - and
starts to work out solutions as part of the
discussion and training.’
The cow
l
Keep the animal as clean as possible
l
Consider regularly clipping tails and
udder hair
Dry cows
l
Use dry cow therapy as recommended
by your vet to suit the circumstances
on your farm
Outside
l
Use rotational grazing as
environmental pathogens (including
S.uberis) have the ability to survive
in wet soil and pastures
l
Try to graze paddocks for two weeks
and then rest them for four
l
Watch your cattle - do not forget
dry cows
l
Move cows quickly should their
grazing areas become wet or muddy
l
Ensure sufficient water and feeding
sites to avoid the creation of boggy
areas, an ideal breeding ground
for bacteria
Housed areas
l
Provide enough space for loafing,
allowing animals to stay cleaner and
reducing the risk of contamination
with the bacteria which cause
environmental mastitis
l
Ensure cubicles are the right size for
the breed of cow
l
Renew bedding regularly and make
sure it is as dry as possible
l
Regularly remove slurry from
passageways
l
Talk to your vet or advisor about
suitable cubicle bedding
...Top Tips
for
managing mastitis
in the environment
(courtesy of Virbac Animal Health)