There is no doubt that the use of routine culture for mastitis pathogens, both contagious and environmental, is a powerful management tool for maintaining good udder health and milk quality in progressive dairy herds. 

I frequently receive questions about the different test name acronyms and how to interpret what those results tell them. More importantly, I am asked how producers and industry service providers troubleshoot high counts. A basic understanding of the different ways in which bulk tank milk may be tested and what those tests measure is extremely helpful in understanding what impacts milk quality on the farm.

Milking inflations, milking machine effects and teat germicides, along with environmental exposures, will change teat tissue and integrity over time, which can compromise their ability to combat infection. For these reasons, it is vitally important to take steps to maintain healthy teat condition.

Il n’y a aucun doute : nous vivons dans un monde qui change rapidement. La technologie continue d’évoluer à un rythme effréné, ce qui influence la façon dont les gens vivent, travaillent et font des affaires.

Clearly we have not “solved” the problem of mastitis and the risk it poses to milk quality. While it is tempting to look to the latest sensors, supplements, on-farm tests or other technologies to hit the market to resolve this problem, let’s take a step back and review what we have learned and know to be true about mastitis control.