Related Experiment Videos
Economics of mastitis control
R Gill1, W H Howard, K E Leslie
1Department of Agricultural Economics and Business, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Dairy Science
|November 1, 1990
Summary
Mastitis control practices impact somatic cell count (SCC) and milk yield. Individual cow SCC better predicts milk loss than bulk tank SCC, with most practices proving economical.
Area of Science:
- Dairy Science
- Animal Health
- Veterinary Medicine
Background:
- Mastitis significantly impacts dairy cow health and milk production.
- Somatic cell count (SCC) is a key indicator of udder infection and milk quality.
- Evaluating the economic viability of mastitis control is crucial for dairy farm management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency of mastitis control practices.
- To assess the effects of these practices on SCC and milk yield.
- To determine the economic efficiency of various mastitis control strategies.
Main Methods:
- Combined survey data on management practices with Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) production records.
- Analyzed relationships between milk yield, SCC, management, and farm characteristics.
- Calculated the economic benefits of recommended mastitis control practices.
Main Results:
- Confirmed the negative correlation between SCC and milk, fat, and protein yield.
- Individual cow SCC was a more accurate predictor of milk loss than bulk tank SCC.
- Most mastitis control practices were economically beneficial, except using sanitizers in wash solutions and professional milking machine inflation changes.
Conclusions:
- Individual cow SCC monitoring is vital for assessing milk loss.
- Most standard mastitis control practices are cost-effective for dairy farms.
- The economic efficiency of treating all cows versus selected cows at drying off requires further investigation.