Mastitis is one of the more renowned health issues for dairy cattle. Affecting cattle health, production, and milk quality, mastitis can have a huge economic impact on a dairy. To learn more about mastitis, from how it starts, to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, view this curated selection of past DAIReXNET webinars, now available on YouTube for your convenience. Don’t want to miss a video from DAIReXNET? Head over to our channel and subscribe!
Managing Somatic Cell Counts
First, you’ll hear from Dr. Ron Erskine on the origin of somatic cells and the importance of a cow’s immunity. Then Dr. Larry Fox picks up, discussing prevention tactics as well as practices that can help lower and maintain lowered SCC. Finally, Dr. Jeff Reneau wraps up by discussing how you can use herd records for problem-solving at the herd and individual cow level.
Better Milk Quality from Better Mastitis Therapy Decisions
Dr. Ron Erskine returns to talk about using available tools to improve mastitis therapy. Learn about mastitis culturing, the use of records, and several aspects of antibiotic usage.
Milking System Design and Analysis
The milking system is the heart of any dairy operation, and can have a major impact on mastitis! In this video, Dr. Roger Thomson discusses the design and analysis of a milking system, including some reasons a producer might consider changing the milking system, frequency of evaluation, and basic system design.
Proper Dry-Off Procedures to Prevent New Infections and Cure Existing Cases of Mastitis
Hear from Dr. Steve Nickerson on the keys of proper dry-off procedures for dairy cows, including:
- when to dry off
- intermittent milking vs. complete cessation of milking
- teat sanitation and infusion procedures
- use of nonlactating cow therapy and/or teat seals
Managing Mastitis in Bred Heifers
When you think mastitis, don’t just think about your lactating cows! In another presentation from Dr. Nickerson, you can learn about the prevalence and treatment of mastitis in bred heifers, as well as several strategies for prevention. He discusses various methods that may help reduce the incidence of new infections, including teat seals, controlling horn fly populations, vaccinations, and feed additives.