5 Things Dairy Producers Should Do This Summer to Prevent Mastitis Outbreaks

...and 5 Products From WestfaliaSurge to Help Them Succeed!

#1 - Provide Clean, Dry Bedding
First and foremost, cows need to have access to clean, dry and comfortable bedding, whether it be in free stalls, or shaded pasture.  As we mentioned before, bacteria need food, water, and heat to multiply and flourish. Since we really can’t do much about controlling the weather (heat & humidity), we must concentrate on eliminating the food and water available for bacterial growth. Bacteria use any organic material, such as bedding materials, manure, or milk, as potential food. Therefore, if we maintain clean stalls, we will prevent the bacteria’s food source from becoming overly available (and if we start with inorganic bedding such as sand, we will be even farther ahead). 

Also, dairymen need to be sure to remove moisture or water from the environment. The biggest factor contributing to environmental mastitis is wet, dirty bedding. Without a source for water, bacteria will die. Stalls need to be properly constructed for optimum drainage and to limit contamination through urination/excess moisture. In addition, stalls must be groomed regularly, especially the rear 1/3 of the stall where the udder comes into contact with the bedding material.

There is no doubt about the fact that clean, dry stalls and cows should be a priority on every dairy operation, and that cleaner cows will yield cleaner milk. 

Also, keep in mind that good intentions toward cooling cows, could end up yielding bigger problems in the long run. If misters, shaded areas, or cooling ponds are provided to help cows handle the heat, management must be top notch in these areas. Anywhere cows may congregate (i.e. shade) is a place where they will defecate and urinate, leading to increased contamination in their most likely place to lay down and relax. In addition, misters may help cool cows, but again, be aware of any water build-up, or wet stalls that may end up wreaking more havoc than they are intending if they are not managed properly.

ZorbiSan® Bedding Conditioner to the Rescue...
Even the best managers can have a hard time managing bedding, especially when the environment is less than cooperative, and other farm priorities take precedent. That is why a bedding conditioner, such as ZorbiSan, can be so valuable on so many dairy operations. ZorbiSan is a unique, pH-lowering absorbent that reduces moisture in bedding and keeps cows cleaner and drier, while reducing odors. ZorbiSan may be just the ticket dairymen need this summer to keep their bedding clean and dry and their cows producing top-quality milk.  Click here for more information on ZorbiSan Bedding Conditioner.

*Note: ZorbiSan is also excellent in maternity pens and calf hutches - especially during the summer!

#2 - Provide a Cool, Comfortable Environment
Heat stress is a proven dollar drain - even at temperatures as low as 78° F.  The next step after providing clean, dry bedding, is to provide the coolest possible environment - in all areas of the dairy operation. Besides the obvious housing area for cows, also look to feeding areas (sometimes located in direct, hot sunlight), and holding areas as the “hot” spots on operations that definitely require cooling attention. Cows spend a fair amount of time eating and waiting to be milked, so we want to be sure they are kept as cool as possible to again, keep stress levels down, and their milk production and immune system up. 

WestfaliaSurge Supplies Offers Fans and Mist Kits For Any Situation...
Proper ventilation is the key to keeping cows cool. Misters without proper air movement, in combination with the body heat of cows and the ambient temperature, will only result in a saunalike effect in the housing area.  Thankfully, WestfaliaSurge Dairy Supplies offers a variety of J&D and Schaefer Barn Fans, along with mist kits to help any operation effectively ventilate and cool their cows this summer, preventing heat stress. (Check with your local WS dealer for all the options.) Experts agree that investing in proper cooling equipment does not have to be overly expensive, and in fact it typically provides one of the biggest returns on an investment for the dairy. The bottom line is...cooling pays!

#3 - Protect Teats With an Environmentally Tough Teat Dip
When cows are facing tough environmental conditions, they need tough protection from their teat dip. Many times, it is their only line of defense against the rampant environmental bacteria often present during the months of summer.  Environmental organisms thrive in the cow’s surroundings and reproduce rapidly. They are abundant in manure, soil, bedding, feedstuffs, water, and plant materials - and they are impossible to eliminate. Mastitis caused by these organisms can have long-term, devastating effects on the cow’s udder health, milk production potential, and ultimately the profitability of an operation. However, proper pre- and post-dipping with a teat dip proven effective in killing environmental organisms can greatly protect cows’ teats from infection, and help prevent all the long-term effects that follow a mastitis outbreak.

WestfaliaSurge Offers Teats Dips That Are Protocol Tested and Proven Effective...
WestfaliaSurge barrier teat dips are highly recommended when it comes to battling tough environmental conditions. Teat dips like InterSept™ and Armor®, form a true barrier of protection around the teat, and even reactivate when moistened for continued protection throughout the inter-milking period.  These dips have proven that environmental organisms are no match for their germicidal ability by significantly reducing new intramammary infections in each of their NMC recommended protocol tests. In addition to these barriers, WestfaliaSurge offers a full-line of other teat dips (iodine and non-iodine / pre and post), that will help prevent environmental mastitis this summer, and all year round.  Click here for more information on our complete line of teat dip products.

#4 - Minimize Flies
More than a common nuisance on the farm, flies harbor many diseases, including mastitis, and have been shown in research trials to actually decrease milk production! It has been proven that flies are known carriers of many types of common mastitis-causing pathogens. Biting flies are especially troublesome for cows as they prefer to bite on the cows’ teats and teat-ends, where the skin is thin and tender. Biting flies have been shown to be able to cause enough irritation and damage on the teat-ends to result in wounds and scab formations. Bacteria such as Staph. aureus readily grow on these injured locations and around the scabs. As with any wound on the teat, mastitis is a probable result. Experts also say that these cases of Staph. aureus mastitis often become chronic, resulting in decreased milk quality and production. Even non-biting flies, such as the housefly, can spread mastitis-causing bacteria by “sponging-up” moist materials on their mouthparts and depositing them on the next place they land. “Fly specks” (seen on walls and fences) are actually small amounts of vomit and fecal matter left behind by flies, that often contain bacteria that are transmitted where the fly lands. Cows that leak milk in-between milkings are frequent targets for housefly feeding/sponging.

Let the KattleGuard System Fight Flies and Mastitis This Summer...
Without a doubt, the new KattleGuard Automatic Fly Control System is now the most effective method of fly and lice control for dairy farms! The fully automatic system allows the user to simply “set it, and forget it”. KattleGuard fly spray solution/pour-on is fully approved for lactating dairy cows and is available, along with a host of other fly control products, through WestfaliaSurge Dairy Supplies. Check with your local WS dealer for complete details!

*Note: Besides the products available to control flies, dairymen should search for breeding locations (such as fresh manure, decaying silage or hay, wet bedding, or milk spills) and remove them before the fly populations begin to develop.

#5 - Focus on Pre-Milking Procedures
While we always want to focus on correct pre-milking procedures, there may be no more critical time than during the summer. As we stated before, environmental conditions are often less than ideal during this time of year, which means milkers have to really concentrate on cow-prep to try and make up for shortcomings in other areas. Cows must be pre-dipped, with an effective dip, to kill the bacteria present from the often hazardous environment. Then, cows must be wiped clean and dried before unit attachment. And, teat-end cleanliness is key. Milkers must focus on making that extra physical pass across the teat-end, to prevent increased bacteria counts in the milk, and increased chances for infection. Also, it is well worth the time to more thoroughly fore-strip cows during this time of year, and closely check fore-milk for wateriness or clots, to catch clinical mastitis right away.

ProMilk Service...Exclusively From WestfaliaSurge...
Spring and early summer is the best time to do a complete milking procedures evaluation. This way you can benchmark where you are at today, and make improvements to your procedures before the heat arrives, and mastitis problems begin. Check with your local WestfaliaSurge dealer about receiving a complete milking procedures and/or teat-end cleanliness evaluation. Just one of the many ProMilk services offered exclusively from WestfaliaSurge.

*Note: While these items may not fall into our service offering, we also want to remind dairymen to always provide plenty of fresh, clean water to cows to help reduce stress and aid in cow comfort, and to closely monitor nutrition, as it greatly effects cow performance, especially in the summer.