On Mastitis Detection and Management
T
he impact of mastitis can be staggering. With each case of mastitis, dairies can experience economic losses from treatment costs, lower production, increased labor, increased SCC and potentially removing a cow from the herd.
Considering all of this adds up to the tune of $444 per one case of clinical mastitis1 and $100 per subclinical mastitis case1, it’s time to raise the bar on mastitis detection and management. Obviously, there are many tried and true practices that combined with good management are effective at identifying and managing mastitis. So, what’s next… what are dairies doing to achieve higher levels of mastitis management? Four dairies share their insights on the benefits of incorporating mastitis polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing into their management program.
Evergreen Dairy Farm, LLC Kris and Carla Wardin, St. Johns, Mich.
550 cows, 29,500M, 74,000 SCC 2020 National Mastitis Council Gold Award 2019 National Mastitis Council Platinum Award
Seven Oaks Dairy, LLC Tony Liebergen, Kaukauna, Wis. 1,100 cows, 29,800M, 125,000 SCC
Why use Mastitis PCR testing? Evergreen: We had purchased a significant number of animals for a herd expansion and had a substantial increase in our bulk tank SCC. We started with herd testing through our co-op, MMPA, and got our vet clinic involved when we did identify Staph aureus. Once we started monitoring through clinic cultures we had some difficulty collecting samples that were “clean” enough to get a valid culture rather than a contaminated result. When we started DHI testing to monitor individual cow SCC, we learned we could test those samples with PCR. We have continued to use it as a screening tool now that the Staph aureus infection rate is nearly zero. Seven Oaks: We typically average a 120,000-bulk tank SCC. It had been slowly creeping up and we knew we needed to do something. Around the same time, we were going through an expansion and Dr. Kelly Peters, our herd veterinarian, was getting nervous about all the new cows coming in. He 28
Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, LLC Chris Szydel, Kewaunee, Wis. 5,500 cows, 31,500M, 167,000 SCC
Country Aire Farms, LLC Tom Gerrits, Greenleaf, Wis.
3,625 cows, 32,300M, 126,000 SCC 2020 National Mastitis Council Platinum Award
suggested a new cow testing strategy to identify contagious mastitis using PCR. We tried it and had some come back positive for Staph aureus that we removed immediately. Initially we collected our own samples and took them to the lab. Now we rely solely on DHI collected samples. The convenience of CentralStar doing all the work and just giving us the information is extremely valuable. Pagel’s Ponderosa: We are aggressively tackling Mycoplasma bovis with a zero-tolerance approach. The PCR is hands down a better option than standard Mycoplasma culture because it is significantly faster. Because of our protocol to lockdown a positive pen until individual results are back, we need answers fast. The 48-hour turnaround time on PCR is significantly better than seven days for a Mycoplasma culture. Country Aire: We are always aiming to create a cleaner herd, keep bulk tank SCC low (goal under 100,000), and weed out non-profitable cows. We see the mastitis PCR as another tool for achieving and maintaining quality milk.
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