New environmental mastitis warning
DESPITE a promising decline in contagious mastitis and cell counts, more can be done to control environmental mastitis.
Launching a MAFF booklet Treatment and Prevention of Mastitis in Dairy Cows at the EDFE, ADAS consultant Brian Pocknee said environmental mastitis is not only costing producers money, it is also a welfare issue.
The booklet aims to help producers attack factors that contribute to environmental mastitis cases, such as dirty teats, before cows reach the parlour.
His colleague Philip Gibson added that mastitis is also becoming more of an economic issue as producers cannot afford to miss out on milk quality bonuses. "You can lose 1.4p a litre through poor milk quality on some milk contracts."
The booklet is available through the MAFF helpline (0645-335577).
Share