The preventive measures of mastitis at dairy farms in Ireland

Abstract

In order to investigate the preventative measures of mastitis at dairy farms in Ireland, ten farms were examined. Firstly a survey was conducted for each farm. The farmers were questioned on general information about the farm, housing, milking hygiene, their milking routine and treatment of mastitis. Then each farm was visited and the milking hygiene, the milking parlour and sheds were inspected. The monthly Somatic cell count average between February 2011 and February 2012 was collected from each farm. Using the information from the literary review and the survey, the hygienic methods of these Irish farmers were compared to the methods deemed appropriate by recent scientific research. The SCC results were then used to prove/disprove whether these techniques were in fact suitable.

The results of the survey are depicted in graphs showing the various answers supplied by the farmers. It was found that the most used bedding were rubber mats and that none of the cubicle size of the cubicles were not big enough in any of the farms. All the farms had appropriate ventilation where the cows were kept. It was discovered that all farmers checked their milking machines once a year and over half of them check them twice a year. Every farm checked the vacuum reserve, the vacuum level and all liners were checked at least once a year which was considered adequate according to the literary review. All farmers used either acid boiling wash or cold circulation clean for washing their milking machines which are considered appropriate methods. Only 40% of farmers used disinfected gloves which was the recommended technique in scientific journals. Every farmer milked their cows twice a day and 80% milked them at set times while only 20% of famers milked them infrequently. 80% of farmers also milked by themselves. The survey also illustrated that using paper towels which is advocated in the literary review is only practiced by 50% of farmers. Only 10% of farmers use predip while 80% use post dip and 40% clip, wash and dry before milking. The survey also revealed that 90% of farmers think that pre dipping is unnecessary. Half of the farmers answered that they performed foremiking and 30% have a milking order which is approved by the literary review and only 10% carry out machine stripping which is discouraged. The main pathogens which cause mastitis in Ireland and which farmers in the survey are aware of are E. coli, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus and 30% of the farmers were unaware of the pathogens. Fifty percent of farmers believed that no improvement could be made to decrease levels of mastitis in the herd and the others believed that culling and hygienic techniques could improve it. There was a variety of opinions on how to detect mastitis with 70% believing foremilking was a good technique (it was also condoned by research) however only ten percent thought the California mastitis test would be effective and this method is approved by scientific journals to be effective. It was discovered that 40% of farmers did not ensure proper milk letdown and that every farmer tests the SCC of the herd once a week. Using a separate dump bucket was the most popular method of milking mastitic cows. 60% of farmers do not use vets when clinical mastitis arises and use intramammary/intramuscular antibiotics instead. When asked about how to prevent mastitis the majority believed the use of disinfectants was best while only ten percent believed in the use of detection methods.

In the discussion several interesting points was revealed. The rubber mats were the best bedding to use. Those who used the disinfected gloves had a better SCC result than those who did not. When dying the udder the farm which used a cloth had the worst SCC result and those that used paper towels had the best. The farm which had used predip and post dip together had the best SCC result and the farm which didn’t use either had one of the worst results. Some farms which did not have Staphylococcus infections believed that culling would be the best method in preventing mastitis which is not necessarily the best method as E. coli and Streptococcus are treated more easily. Those which did not ensure a proper milk letdown before milking still had good SCC results and the farms with low SCC counts also did a minimal amount in regards to preventing the spread of mastitis.