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Spreading hydrated lime where cows lay has been a common practice in the battle against mastitis since the 1940s. This form of disinfecting and drying the area below the bedding barrier to protect teats and udders from pathogens worked very well in a 1960s-style tiestall barn.
Blanket dry cow therapy, the intramammary treatment of all quarters of all cows in the herd with a long-acting antibiotic formulation at dry-off, is one of the practices recommended by the National Mastitis Council for mastitis control.
For dairy cattle, routine and stability are as necessary as feed and water. Likewise, mastitis treatment protocols can become second nature on a dairy operation, remaining unchanged for years.
Although stability can be good for milk quality – a consistent milking routine, for example, is vital – it is important to continually assess and adjust treatment protocols with your veterinarian based on culture records and treatment history.
Occasionally, other factors come into play that require a fresh look at treatment protocols.
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