Milking Hygiene

Using the tools available to manage mastitis in automated milking systems

john@cow-corner.co — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

We can categorize automated milking system data into tools for detecting new infections in individual cows and tools for monitoring the herd level of existing infection. The tools will be more valuable if we use them correctly.

Equipment, chemistry and people: A three-tier checklist for modern parlors

shaun@futurecow.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Milking parlors perform at the intersection of three forces: equipment performance, chemical effectiveness and human compliance. Each one can elevate milk quality or quietly sabotage it.

Dollars down the drain: What one case of mastitis can cost you

dtnolan@illinois.edu — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We often hear that mastitis costs the U.S. dairy industry $2 billion per year. But what does this mean on a case level?

A decision tree to mastitis prevention

adrianne.trennepohl@genusplc.com — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

To effectively manage milk quality and boost production, it is essential to ensure that cows are comfortable in their environment. Therefore, paying attention to proper udder care is crucial; neglecting it could jeopardize your operation’s bottom line.

Making sense of milk culture results: A practical guide for dairy producers

shannon.walsh@hipra.com — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Milk cultures are a powerful tool in managing mastitis, offering insights into which pathogens are affecting your herd. Understanding whether infections stem from environmental or contagious organisms can help guide crucial decisions.

Weighing the costs of mastitis treatment? Ask these five questions

john.champagne@merck.com — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

We, as dairy caretakers, often feel an immediate need to do something in response to seeing abnormal milk. However, it may be more prudent to pause, take a strategic step back and weigh the options before proceeding with blanket treatment for all clinical mastitis cases.

Managing mastitis in hospital pens

theudderdoctor@gmail.com — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The hospital pen or group is often the most disliked pen on a dairy. These are the cows that have abnormal milk and may or may not be sick. These animals must be isolated and identified so their milk does not enter the milk supply. The better the program for handling these cows, the lower the risk of spreading to the clean cows in the herd.

Sustainable milk quality: How preventative maintenance lowers somatic cell count and increases profitability

scarter@boumatic.com — Tue, 06 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Keeping somatic cell count low isn’t just about producing high-quality milk; it’s about minimizing milk losses and maintaining a sustainable, efficient operation.

Protecting your profits: What bulk tank milk tells us about contagious mastitis

waseem.shaukat@ucalgary.ca — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

Because control strategies differ depending on the type of mastitis, knowing the cause of infections in your herd is essential for targeted prevention and treatment.

Klebsiella mastitis: Stop it before it starts

pdv3@cornell.edu — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Klebsiella is a gram-negative bacteria that can cause severe clinical mastitis in dairy cows. If they survive the illness, cows are often culled due to low milk production. This article describes some common ways Klebsiella is transmitted from the environment to teats and strategies on how to prevent Klebsiella mastitis cases on your farm.

The power of pathogen-based mastitis treatment

linda.tikofsky@boehringer-ingelheim.com — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Knowing the classification of a mastitis case can help you choose which animals to treat, saving you money and improving judicious antibiotic use.

Using automation and data to catch mastitis early

smcburney@lely.com — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

While it is impossible to eliminate cases of mastitis in a dairy herd, automation can help producers save time, money and resources, ensuring their cows get the best and most timely care possible.

Mythbusting teat dips: Are you using the right one on your dairy?

keith.engel@gea.com — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

When you make a teat dip change, plan for at least three to four weeks to start seeing a difference – and that’s if all other variables remain the same. Remember, you are using a teat dip to help prevent mastitis, not cure it.

Brophy’s Dairy Farm produces award-winning milk on Newfoundland’s northern peninsula

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Since their father began dairy farming in 1974 with only four cows, the Brophy brothers have grown their herd to 200 milking cows, expanded their forage acreage sixfold, overcome a barn fire in 2002, which decimated their milking herd and main facility, and most recently, sprung back from a severe disease outbreak, which resulted in the death of 42 cows over nine days.

Use the right product at the right time to guarantee excellent udder health

adrianne.trennepohl@genusplc.com — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Udder health is not something you can take your eye off because you have a plan in place.

Water is a major driver of milk quality

matt.gough@delaval.com — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Water is essential in the cleaning of milking equipment and is often overlooked as an important component in milk quality.