Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 11 2009 10:46

The hands of the person collecting the sample must be clean and dry. Wearing latex or vinyl gloves is preferable. Samples should be taken directly from the teats. Bucket or milk meter samples can carry bacteria from previous cows. It is best to sample at milking time (before milking the cow). Sample tubes need to be handled properly to maintain sterility. Keep the cap on the tube until you are ready to sample the milk. The MOST important factor is that the teats are clean and dry. Prep the... [More]

Posted by Dr. Sara Barber on June 11 2009 10:42

Shipping Container (cardboard box, Styrofoam container, plastic bag) Five submission forms Sampling instructions (Bulk Tank, Individual Milk, Towels, Bedding) Ten milk sample containers Five ziplock bags Labels for milk containers Two ice packs

Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 11 2009 10:32

It has been proven that premilking cow preparation is an important component to achieving maximum milk yield, quality, and udder health. Several scientific studies indicate an advantage in milk flow rates and machine on time by optimizing teat/udder stimulation and prep-lag time. Milk quality and udder infection are also improved by good prep procedures. Often times milkers rush through milk prep in an effort to get done. In these situations, teat sanitation, milk letdown, and milk yield suffe... [More]

Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 11 2009 10:17

Evaluate Cow and Rate her According to the Following: 1 = Increased respiratory rate (>30 breaths/minute), temp<103, not dehydrated, bright, eating ok 2 = Increased respiratory rate (>30 breaths/minute), temp>103, not dehydrated, bright, eating ok 3 = Increased respiratory rate (>30 breaths/minute), dehydrated, depressed, may/may not have elevated temp Status = 1 Day One Give Excenel (2cc/cwt) IM Day Two Reevaluate cows condition Improvement: Repeat Excen... [More]

Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 11 2009 09:46

Multiple species Strains endemic in many herds Urogenital tract Respiratory tract Primarily discussing M. bovis Often seen first during start-ups and expansions Bulk tank cultures from purchased herds are a good starting point in prevention Three drawbacks Dry cows can be infected so a bulk tank culture may be negative and you could still buy Mycoplasma Cows that have mastitis on that herd are not in the bulk tank Springers can freshen with Mycoplasma How Mycoplasma... [More]

Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 11 2009 09:33

1st Monday through Friday Tetracycline 324. Use 9 scoops per 35 gallons. Have cattle walk through footbath one milking per day for 5 days 2nd Monday through Friday Lincomix 80 gm packet. Mix one packet per 35 gallons. Have cattle walk through footbath one milking per day for 5 days 3rd Monday through Friday Copper Sulfate. Mix 20 lbs per 35 gallons. Have cattle walk through footbath one milking per day for 5 days Footbath Tips Tetracycline and Lincomix are effective for Hairy Heel ... [More]

Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 11 2009 09:25

Udder stimulation (10-20 seconds): Dry towel to wipe excessive dirt Strip all four teats looking for mastitis and flushing the teat canal Go to next cow and repeat #1 for first 4 cows Back to cow #1 Attach the unit Postdip (complete teat coverage) Important points to remember: Post dip needs to be applied so that it covers the entire teat. Pay extra attention to the teat end to ensure that it is clean. Forestripping is important for three reasons: Cow Stimulation C... [More]

Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 11 2009 09:06

History What is the current bulk tank SCC and what has the trend been? What are your creamery bacteria counts? Do you have DHIA records? Evaluate new infection rate Percent of herd over 200,000 Dry cow new infections and cures Action Plan: Culture bulk tank (standard plate count, lab pasteurization count, preliminary incubation, differential) Clinical Cases Do you record clinical cases? Stage of lactation trends? What is the current treatment protocol? Who decides t... [More]

Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 11 2009 08:48

Intramammary (IMM) Antibiotic Once a Day Treatment Option 1: Pirsue Dose: One tube/infected quarter. Repeat once after a 24 hour interval Withdrawal: Milk 36 hours after last treatment Meat 9 days Option 2: Hetacin-K Dose: One tube/infected quarter. Repeat after a 24 hours interval Withdrawal: Milk 72 hours after last treatment Meat 10 days Twice a Day Treatment Option 1: Cefa-Lak Dose: One tube/quarter. Repeat in 12 hours. Withdrawal: Milk 96 hours after last ... [More]

Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 11 2009 08:15

Evaluate Cow and Rate her According to the Following: 1 = Abnormal milk, udder not swollen, temp<103, not dehydrated, not weak 2 = Abnormal milk, swollen udder, temp<103, not dehydrated, not weak 3 = Abnormal milk, swollen udder, systemically ill (may/may not have temp>103, dehydration, weak) All Cows: Take a milk sample and freeze, label with date, cow #, quarter(s) affected (LF, RF, LR, RR) Milk sampling: Clean teat by dipping with teat dip, wait 30 seconds, dry with clea... [More]