Milk recording info key to mastitis control
ICBF reports for all spring calving herds recorded in a 10-day period from Sept 12 to 21 this year showed the average SCC level at 250,000, the best 20% had 157,000, while the worst 20% had 375,000. These figures show that a lot of work is needed to bring all herds under 200,000. Over half our farmers are not included in these figures, because they are not milk recording. Their average SCC is much higher (536,840 cows are milk recorded this year, 1.6% up on last year. Average production for the period Sept 12-21 was 17 kg per day at 4.4% fat and 3.62% protein, and the average SCC was 250,000).
Of course, there is great variation among farms and cows. Herds which have SCC consistently above 250,000 are living with infection which is costly and difficult to control.
