A comparison of national mastitis surveys in Great Britain and the Netherlands

The results of a national survey of mastitis carried out in 1977 in Great Britain are compared with similar surveys carried out in the Netherlands. The results are very similar although the average herd-size was much higher in the British survey. The advantage of teat-dipping and dry-cow therapy was demonstrated. Both surveys showed a decrease in infection level with increasing herd-size but the reverse was true with increased age. The value of individual bulk-milk cell counts as an indicator of infection level is questioned.