Mastitis
individual cell counts has allowed
us to learn so much more about the
dynamics of infections in our
clients’ herds. One interesting
technique is to monitor the
proportion of cows that recover in
the month immediately following a
high cell count test. Some herds
only have 1 cow in every 4
recently-infected cows get better
while the luckier farms have 2 cows
in every 3 recover immediately.This
difference probably illustrates which
bug is the common problem on any
farm and it is certainly easier to
track than having to take a lot of
milk samples! (See Figure 4).
But none of this information is any
good if no action is taken to
address the problems. We list cows
that need to be tackled (eg Figure
4a) and each month make one or
two simple recommendations for
action. We have also found it really
helpful to present farm results as a
league table amongst other local
farmers. Most farmers do well in
some respects but at the same time
have other areas to focus on for
improvements. Using the current
trend for ‘traffic light’ colours to
emphasise the main points, the
reports show easily whether focus
should be on dry period or milking
time management. (Figures 5 and
6). We are also able to see if heifer
management is contributing to the
number of infected cows in the
milking herd.
The facility to analyse cows
recorded with NMR and all other
recording companies, now allows us
to offer this service to any farmer
who needs to get on top of his herd
cell count information. Having this
regular information helps farms
with stable cell counts be confident
that they won’t get some nasty
surprises.
Without doubt cell count data
analysis offers a huge step forward
in cell count and mastitis control.
Figure 2: SCC Status Summary
Figure 3
Figure 4a: Cows infected for the first time in the current lactation - “New”
Cow SCC Previous Parity Days Post >200,000 >200,000
SCC Partum This Lactation Previous Lactation
847 3732 4 1 102 1/4 -
845 1087 11 1 108 1/4 -
819 401 126 2 377 1/12 0/1
851 309 200 1 90 1/3 -
314 273 96 2 319 1/10 0/14
206 211 99 2 234 1/8 3/12
Cows infected at first recording of lactation - “First”
Cow SCC Previous Parity Days Post >200,000 >200,000
SCC Partum This Lactation Previous Lactation
5 2748 - 5 26 1/1 -
Figure 5
Figure 6
10 DAIRY VET MARCH 2008
Figure 4
Farm Cleared Deteriorated
% %
1 44% 16%
2 54% 17%
3 41% 11%
4 45% 11%
5 47% 26%
6 54% 15%
7 51% 15%
8 42% 19%
9 41% 17%
10 32% 26%
11 51% 14%
12 64% 8%
13 50% 15%
14 49% 15%
15 40% 16%
16 45% 15%
17 49% 13%
18 28% 21%
19 67% 16%
20 67% 14%
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