Longlands Update
At Longlands farm Dr James Breen has implemented the AHDB Dairy National Mastitis Control Plan as well as the new AHDB mastitis herd pattern analysis tool. This tool provides a fully automated method of assessing the predominant mastitis infection patterns present on farm, using somatic cell count and clinical mastitis records.
The initial assessment and follow up with the plan has taken place, highlighting the biggest risk areas for mastitis within the herd. During the first visit James analysed many different areas of the farm to get a whole picture for a more personalised approach. Both of the plans allow farmers and vets to assess and prioritise key management areas and potentially detect emerging problems within the dry period and/or lactation period.
SCC and clinical mastitis patterns
The clinical mastitis rate was found to be heavily influenced by what happens to dry and milking cows during the summer months. From the data it is clear that cows tend to develop clinical mastitis within the first 30 days of lactation during the summer. In previous years the new cases in cows after 30 days highlighted environmental factors within the cow house, however this has significantly improved since the installation of a new positive pressure ventilation system. This information puts the emphasis on improving dry cow and transition management to slow down clinical mastitis rates.
Cell counts has been heavily influenced within the dry cow period during the summer. However, low cell count cows that are dried off have tended to calve back into the herd with a high cell count at a high rate since Easter, suggesting infections acquired during the dry period. Bacteriology from chronic high cell count cows highlights the importance of Streptococcus uberis, an environmental pathogen classically acquired in lose yard systems that can also result in more persistent infection during lactation. The mastitis ‘pattern’ is therefore one of environmental infections of predominantly dry period origin at this stage
Mastitis plan
The mastitis control plan focuses on Environmental pathogens with most new infections from the dry period. This plan focuses on the management of the dry period, calving cows, treatment of mastitis and monitoring and capturing data. The aim of this plan is to:
- Control and reduce the rate of NEW high cell count cows at the 1st milk recording from rolling average of 21.0% to <10%.
- Control and reduce rate of NEW clinical mastitis cases in cows less than 30 days calved in the next 12 month from an average of > 3 in 12 to < 1 in 12 cows calved.
The key areas that John has agreed to tackle first are:
- Providing at least 2 sq.m of loafing space to the close up dry cows
- Alleyways, loafing and feed areas are going to be scraped at least twice daily.
- Bedding close up dry cows daily with clean straw and every other day for far off dry cows with sand.
- Administering dry cow therapy hygienically with the use of surgical spirit swab on every teat prior to infusion.
- Moving towards selective dry cow therapy over time, using only teat sealant to all low cell count cows.
- All staff to check in line filters after each cow is milked, all clinical cases must be treated.
Conclusion
The focus over the next few months will be on the management of the dry cows and the dry and calving cow environment with a re-assessment in the New Year. The plan for the remainder of the project will be to reduce the impact of mastitis and somatic cell count at Longlands farm
- Reduce mastitis rates from an average of 30 cases per 100 cows to <25 cases per 100 cows
- Reduce somatic cell count dry period infection rate from 21.0% to < 10%
- Improve Dry cow somatic cell count cure rate from 69.1% to >85%
- Also reducing overall antibiotic usage to the recommended targets of <20 mg/ Population Correction Unit (PCU).