EVERY Australian dairy farmer knows that producing premium quality milk is one of the keys to profitability, and it is a case of 'persistence pays', especially with teat disinfection practices.
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Most dairy farmers are paid the top price if their milk has a bulk milk cell count of less than 250,000, and this is largely influenced by the level of subclinical mastitis in the herd.
Dairy Australia Countdown Downunder project manager Dr John Penry says teat disinfection is the single most effective way to prevent spread of infection, and that goes a long way towards maintaining BMCC within the premium level.
“Thoroughly covering every teat with disinfectant after every milking is easy, and effective," he said.
"It just requires persistence but that persistence certainly pays off.
“Well-performing teat spraying can reduce new infection rates of all the major mastitis bacteria (including Strep. uberis.) by about 50 per cent."
Use the following Countdown Downunder Quick Check to make sure your teat disinfection practices are effective. Do you:
- teat spray after every milking
- use a ready-to-use product or mix a fresh batch daily, according to instructions
- ensure all parts of the teat in contact with the liner are thoroughly covered (the front teats too)
- and use 20mL per cow per milking.
* Visit www.dairyaustralia.com.au
