The high cost of mastitis is indisputable, and staggering. On an industry level, mastitis—clinical and subclinical cases—steals about $1.8 billion from U.S. dairy producers annually. This is approximately 10 percent of the total value of farm milk sales.1
Bringing that down to a per-case basis—which hits a little closer to home—the average case of clinical mastitis is about $444, including $128 in direct costs and $316 in indirect costs.2 Direct costs included diagnostics ($10), therapeutics ($36), non-saleable milk ($25), veterinary service ($4), labor ($21) and death loss ($32). Indirect costs included future milk production loss ($125), premature culling and replacement loss ($182), and future reproductive loss ($9).
Therefore, it’s important for dairies to take steps to enhance udder health and protect cows against this profit robber. Following are three ways to help accomplish this goal.
1. Boost Cow Performance with RFCs.
The Refined Functional Carbohydrates™ (RFC™) found in CELMANAX™ can help provide a healthy immune foundation and help enhance cow health and performance.
Research3 shows that cows supplemented with CELMANAX had higher milk production, numerically lower somatic cell counts and fewer instances of mastitis compared to cows fed the control diet which did not contain RFCs.
RFCs have been shown to counteract mycotoxins and bind harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract that can impede immune function. The gut is one of the animal’s largest immune organs and a first line of defense against common toxins and harmful pathogens. When gut immunity falters, animals become more susceptible to a wide range of diseases. In addition, RFCs exhibit prebiotic properties by supporting the beneficial bacteria of the intestine while blocking sites for attachment by pathogenic bacteria.
Plus, immune suppression can be reversed by beta 1,3/1,6 glucans present in RFCs, allowing the cow to further protect itself against bacterial pathogens. Additionally, RFCs bind to certain bacterial species very efficiently, preventing them from attaching to epithelial cells. Because of this adherence inability, these bacteria are prevented from colonizing the gastrointestinal tract, instead passing harmlessly through the digestive system. Thus, nutrient uptake is maintained, leading to better feed efficiency and animal performance.
2. Implement a Milk Quality Plan.
As milk quality experts at the University of Wisconsin note, “Successful mastitis control is dependent on effective detection, accurate diagnosis, evaluation of appropriate treatment options and implementation of preventive practices that address herd-specific risk factors associated with exposure to mastitis pathogens.”
An effective milk quality plan4 should include these components:
· Clear case definitions and effective mechanisms to detect both clinical and subclinical mastitis
· Recording systems that allow for timely evaluation of risk factors
· Feedback mechanisms that allow dairy managers and veterinarians to manage milk quality.
3. Promote and Fine-Tune Proper Milking Procedures.
Regularly train and retrain milking staff on proper milking procedures so that everyone in the parlor knows what is expected and how to accomplish tasks in the desired manner. This helps to avoid shortcuts, the development of bad habits and procedural drift.
As reported by the National Mastitis Council, employ these basic steps to make sure milking routine procedures are followed in your facilities:
· Consistency. The milking protocol must be consistent among all milkers during all milkings.
· Understanding. Milking technicians must understand why procedures are done.
· Post. Procedures should be posted to promote consistency among all employees.
The dry period and the early fresh period represent the greatest opportunity for management interventions to improve, or potentially worsen, the health of the udder and its ability to produce quality milk throughout lactation.2 Which option do you choose?
If improving udder health is important to you, then begin by supporting cow immunity and emphasizing the importance of an actionable milk quality plan underscored by proper milking procedures. Doing so will help you get the jobs done on your dairy more easily and efficiently.
To learn more, visit AHanimalnutrition.com.
1 Schroeder JW. Bovine Mastitis and Milking Management. North Dakota State University. Available at: https://live-ccms.pantheonsite.io/sites/default/files/352780940fcc619ebc2bedc038c5b5f8f7e0.pdf. Accessed September 7, 2017.
2 Rollin E, Dhuyvetter KC, Overton MW. The cost of clinical mastitis in the first 30 days of lactation: An economic modeling tool. Preventive Dairy Medicine. 2015;122;257-264. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587715300490. Accessed September 7, 2017.
3 The effect of CELMANAX on production performance in dairy cattle. Available at: https://ahanimalnutrition.com/-/media/spd/files/product-literature/dairy/celmanax/research/celmanax_research-notes-d-49_web.ashx. Accessed September 7, 2017.
4 Ruegg P. A Practical Look at Monitoring Mastitis Control Programs. University of Wisconsin, Madison. Presented at: Congreso Internacional ANEMBE de Medicina Bovina. May 11-13, Avila, Spain.
