Allow six weeks for udder health

The mastitis infection risk is five to seven times higher during the early dry period and just prior to calving, compared to during the lactation.

So it’s important to dry off cows correctly, to minimise problems. Plan for at least a six-week dry period to maximise udder health, and use your breeding records to select cow groups for drying off at the correct time.

* Dry off cows as soon as production is less than nine litres per day.