Mastitis is estimated to cost the average dairy farmer over £10,000 a year and can lead to:
• Milk quality penalties
• Reduced milk production
• Increased discard of non-saleable milk
• Increased diagnosis and treatment costs
• Reduced milk quality
• Premature culling of young cows
Cows with a cell count above 200,000 cells per ml are likely to have sub-clinical mastitis present. The Mastitis ID service helps you pinpoint which type of bacteria is causing the mastitis. This is essential for cost-effective treatment and the prevention of further infection which may lead to a loss in milk yield.
Samples can be taken from individual cows, either as a whole milk sample or individual quarter samples, enabling you to identify key areas of infection. Samples are submitted to the laboratory using the MicroCheck kits supplied by NML.
Testing is carried out using rtPCR technology to identify the DNA of mastitis pathogens. Results indicate the specific bacteria causing a high somatic cell count, helping to identify the main cause of mastitic infection as well as identifying other pathogens present in the environment when the samples were taken. For sampling instructions please click here.
Guidance notes are included with the results. This will ensure that you use the right course of treatment at the earliest opportunity to combat the cause of infection as well as providing valuable information on the pathogens present on your farm to enable a holistic approach to mastitis control on the dairy farm.
Results are available by post, fax or email as well as through Micro Monitor on the Herd Companion website. If you require a username and password to access Herd Companion please contact Customer Services on 0844 7255567.
A Complete Package
The Mastitis ID service provides you with an easy-to-use kit that contains a sample bottle, swabs, full instructions, and pre-paid labels to send the samples to the laboratory. Because PCR technology is used for this service, preserved milk samples can be used and therefore preservative is included in the sample pot. The results will usually be available the same day the sample reaches the laboratory.
Identifying the Problem through NMR
Your NMR cell count report will highlight the cows with cell counts above 200,000 cells per ml. Samples of milk from high cell count cows should be collected so that the type of bacteria can be identified.
MicroCheck Sampling Instructions please click here.
ALL YOU REQUIRE IS A MASITTIS ID SAMPLING KIT.
PLEASE CALL CUSTOMER SERVICES ON 0844 725 5567 TO ORDER YOUR KIT.
