Mastitis
RT-PCR testing is showing up more often on dairies because it can find mastitis pathogens faster and more accurately than traditional culture. Understanding the process and results can help you make better decisions on farm.
Robots and sensors can spot mastitis before symptoms appear, but keeping cows healthy still comes down to careful management.
As the limitations of manual culturing and visual inspection become more apparent, the industry is shifting toward passive detection — systems that monitor the cow without requiring extra labor hours. But this requires expert interpretation from veterinarians to ensure the data translates into actionable treatment.
Mastitis is a systems problem, not just an infection. Control requires shifting from reactive treatment to proactive management and using data to solve health issues at the source.
Many heifer intramammary infections begin months before calving, long before milking hygiene becomes relevant. Targeting prevention earlier can protect future milk production and improve overall herd health.
From benchmarking to culture results, veterinarians can guide producers toward smarter antibiotic use that protects both herd health and drug efficiency.
In the world of dairy farming, maximizing milk quality and cow comfort is paramount. Dr. Andy Johnson, famously known as ‘The Udder Doctor,’ has been at the forefront of this mission. With experience ranging from small farms with 20 cows to large-scale operations with 22,000 cows, Dr. Johnson’s insights have reached dairies across 30 countries and 47 states.
In the face of fluctuating market dynamics and economic pressures, innovative profitability strategies have become crucial, particularly in the dairy industry.
Use on-farm culturing to determine proper care.
Genetic selection goals may have to be adjusted
Following proper milking procedures can achieve the desired balance between parlor throughput and optimal milk production.
Set up a culturing lab to identify the causes of mastitis and treat accordingly.
The OSU test can assist with prevention and early treatment intervention against clinical mastitis.
Abingdon Health, a tenant at the University of Birmingham’s bio-incubator, is developing a rapid diagnostic test for bovine mastitis, a common and serious health problem in dairy cows.