Anyone involved in dairy farming knows the frustration of a mastitis infection. It’s costly – maybe your favorite cow was culled too soon or your milk premiums took a hit. One clinical mastitis case alone is shown to cost $444 during the first 30 days in milk.

As we move forward as a society, the dairy industry will continue to have to justify the use of antibiotics on their operations.

When it comes to dry cow vaccinations, I like to think of them as a two-for-one. You’re vaccinating for the health of the cow, but you’re also providing passive immunity for the calf during those first few months of life.

The dairy industry is conditioned to grab a tube and treat every case of mastitis that comes along. But in reality, all mastitis cases are not created equal, and treating all cases the same can mean you’re wasting time, milk and money.

Producing high-quality milk is a front-and-center goal of most dairy operations. Controlling mastitis and treating it effectively are key to achieving that goal. As the general public turns up its scrutiny on food production, it’s as important as ever to make sure we as an industry are using antibiotics responsibly.

We’re a few months into the new 400,000 somatic cell count (SCC) limit for milk used for export to the European Union (EU). The USDA made it official on January 1. So, what have you done differently on your operation? The measurement is made based on a three-month average and doesn’t apply to all milk – only milk that will be sold to the European Union. While some of us may dislike the added regulation and increased recordkeeping by milk haulers and processors, producing a higher-quality product benefits customers and cows. Lower somatic cell counts mean increased production for our cows and increased shelf life for consumers.

At the first sign of a new case of mastitis, the last thing the herdsman wants is to be left waiting for a call from the milk quality lab to tell them if treatment is worth the expense. You’ve been taught that prompt attention to the health status of your cows always pays off. Meanwhile, the case of mastitis is getting worse and you’re not sure what treatment route to follow. The call, e-mail or mailed letter you’re waiting for will tell you the results of the mastitic milk sample you sent over a week ago. So, do you treat or do you wait? Or is there a more serious issue on your hands?