A new tool to help dairy farmers make better decisions about mastitis management in their herds has been launched today, at UK Dairy Day.
Developed by Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Dairy and the University of Nottingham, this easy-to-use tool will give farmers and vets a better understanding of the infection patterns in the herd.
The Mastitis Pattern Tool identifies problem areas and potential risks to udder health and gives farmers and their veterinary advisor a way of tracking progress in the herd.
Dr. Jenny Gibbons, senior dairy scientist at AHDB, said: “As an industry, and within dairy businesses, we generate an immense amount of data associated with mastitis.
The challenge comes when trying to utilise this data to make informed decisions to combat mastitis within dairy herds.
“This tool provides a fully automated method of assessing the predominant infection patterns present on-farm, using somatic cell count (SCC) and clinical mastitis records.”
Prioritise key areas
Prof. Martin Green from the University of Nottingham, explains: “In the past, it was difficult to recognise problems in herds until an outbreak emerged but the tool gives you the ability to effectively track the udder health of your herd.
The tool produces a pattern report that allows farmers and vets to assess and prioritise key management areas and potentially detect emerging problems.
The tool uses cow Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and clinical mastitis treatment records. Milk recording herds are at an advantage as cow SCC information is readily available.
Using the tool, records are converted and merged into a simple output allowing farmers to assess the patterns in the herd.
