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.
So the first step should be to get the herd average comfortably under 200,000 by following the Teagasc mastitis control programme.
First calved heifers are the barometers. It is the first thing that farmers should look at in the report. Unfortunately, the heifers being recorded in recent years had an yearly average SCC of 193,000, which proves heifers are being widely infected. The SCC of heifers should be well under 80,000, except for the odd one which might temporarily pick up infection and have a raised SCC before being cured quickly.
The cost of high-SCC/mastitis in Ireland is estimated to be about €30m per annum. At any one time, it is estimated one-cow-in-four is affected by sub-clinical mastitis (high-SCC). On average, there are about 40 mastitis cases per 100 cows in Irish dairy herds.
Proper use of a licensed teat dip/spray and hygiene is a priority at this time of year, while ensuring the milking machine is in perfect working order.
But all the rules and practices of good mastitis control should be carefully followed throughout the year.
Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and Teagasc are doing a lot of work with mastitis control. They have established the Cell Check programme, and every farmer should follow it. This programme is broadly similar to what has been developed by Teagasc over the years, and is proved to be highly effective when properly carried out. The objective of this programme is to maintain a national average bulk milk SCC of 200,000 or less by 2020. The main barrier to achieving this objective will be to get sufficient farmers to participate in the programme.
A recent study by AHI indicated that net farm income on average dairy farms can be increased by €10,000 by reducing SCC from 350,000 to less than 200,000, and by another €4,500 if SCC is brought under 100,000.
High SCCs also cause very significant costs at processor level; putting figures on this is the subject of an AHI study this year.
The Teagasc milk quality handbook estimates that a 100-cow dairy herd with average SCC of 400,000 incurs additional mastitis-related costs of €11,700 compared to a similar herd with SCC of 100,000.
Most co-ops are paying a bonus for milk with less than 200,000 SCC, and in some areas, almost 70% of dairy farmers are not availing of this bonus.
