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Prevent mastitis in your dairy farm
Mastitis is a major issue in dairy farming, causing significant economic losses. In France, mastitis costs an average of €230 per cow annually due to production losses, veterinary treatments, and non-marketable milk. Effective prevention and management of mastitis are crucial for maintaining herd health and farm profitability.
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What causes mastitis in cattle?
Mastitis, an inflammation of the udder, is primarily caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus uberis. These pathogens can enter the udder through the teat canal, especially when the cow's natural defenses are down or hygiene conditions are poor.
40%
of dairy cows are affected by mastitis235 kg
Average milk production loss per lactation due to clinical mastitis230 €
Estimated annual cost per cow due to clinical mastitisHow does mastitis spread?
Mastitis can spread in several ways within a farm:
- Direct contact: Between cows during milking or grazing.
- Milking equipment: Using contaminated milking equipment.
- Environment: Contact with contaminated bedding, manure, or water.
- Personnel: Transfer of bacteria through workers' hands, clothing, or boots.
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What are the symptoms of mastitis in cattle?
Mastitis can be clinical or subclinical:
- Clinical mastitis: This form is visible and manifests with clear symptoms such as udder inflammation, changes in milk (clumps, pus, or blood), and sometimes systemic signs like fever and lethargy.
- Subclinical mastitis: This form is more insidious as it does not present obvious symptoms. However, it can be detected by an increase in the somatic cell count (SCC) in milk.
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- Swollen, red and painful udder
- Change in milk consistency (clumpy, watery) and presence of pus or blood in milk
- Reduced milk production
- Fever and lethargy in the cow
- Loss of appetite
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Protect your cows from mastitis
Monitoring the Somatic Cell Count (SCC) is key to udder health:
- SCC < 100,000: Healthy udder.
- SCC > 100,000: Suspect udder, needs close monitoring.
- SCC > 250,000: Suspected mastitis, leading to first penalties.
- SCC > 400,000: Critical level, resulting in a high reduction in milk price.
Biosecurity plays a crucial role in preventing mastitis. It is essential to maintain high hygiene standards throughout the farm. This includes regular disinfection of milking equipment, strict management of bedding, and limiting contact between healthy and infected cows.
4 preventive measures against mastitis in cattle
To prevent mastitis in cows, it's essential to treat and eliminate potential risk factors. Let's take a look at three biosecurity measures that can effectively combat mastitis.:format(webp))
Milking hygiene
Wearing gloves during milking, using clean udder paper or wipes, and cleaning dipping cups after each use are key practices to maintain optimal hygiene and reduce contamination.:format(webp))
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