USING RECORDS

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USING RECORDS TO MANAGE SOMATIC CELL COUNT
Jim Salfer - U of MN Ext. Service
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Level of Mastitis (SCC)
Number of Infected Cows x Duration of Those
Infections Rate of New Infections
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?
?
Who
?
?
What
?
When
?
Where
?
?
Why
?
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Somatic Cell Count and Relationship to Milk Losses
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Records to Keep

• Bulk Tank SCC
• DHIA Data
• Bulk Tank Cultures
• Treatment Records
• Individual Cow Cultures

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Contagious Organisms

• Streptococcus agalactiae
• Responds to treatment
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Does not respond well
• to treatment
• Mycoplasma spp.
• Uncommon in MN
• Does not respond to treatment

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Environmental Organisms

• Non ag strep
• Can be high in bedding
• Can act chronic - particularly Strep uberius
• Staph species
• Primarily Staph Epidermidis - normal inhabitant
  of skin
• Coliform
• E Coli - source is feces
• Klebsiella - Source can be bedding
• Culture Bedding -

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Gram Positive/Gram Negative

• Gram Positive
• Staphs
• Streps
• Gram Negative
• E. coli
• Klebsiella

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Gram Positive Mastitis

• Gram () become chronic if not treated with the
  right antibiotic
• NMC recommendations -- treat Gram () lactating
  mastitis early

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Gram Negative Mastitis

• University research -- coliform bacteria gone by
  the time we see abnormal milk
• Neutrophils (white blood cells) clear infection
• Clinical signs due to endotoxins (dead bacteria)
• Antibiotic treatment only supportive

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Bulk Tank Cultures
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Cow Cultures
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Strep. Ag. Problem

• Responds well to treatment
• Identify infected Cows
• Work with Veterinarian on Treatment/Culture
• Protocol
• Focus on teat dip coverage

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S. Aureus. Problem

• Does not respond well to treatment
• ID infected Cows (ear tags, ear notches, brand)
• Segregate and milk last to prevent spread
• Infections caught early may respond to treatment
• Focus on teat dip coverage to prevent colonization

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Environmental Problem

• Varied response to treatment
• Often caused by milking wet, dirty teats
• Focus on Teat Ends!!!!
• Focus on clean, dry comfortable environment

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DHI Records
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DHI Records
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When are cows being infected?
Adapted from the DHI Somatic Cell Reports Annual
timeline -- Where do infections occur?

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When are cows being infected?
Early Lactation Dry Cow Problem
Mid or Late Lactation Cow Prep or Lactation
Housing Problem
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DHI Records
Is it only a few cows contributing to the the
problem
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Linear Evaluation of a Herd with a Contagious
Mastitis Problem
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Linear Evaluation of a Herd with an Environmental
Mastitis Problem
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• Number infections - Count of all infected milking
  cows
• Fresh infections - Count of infected fresh cows
• Number new infections - Count of cows with new
  infection
• Percent new infections - Percent cows exposed
  that got infected
• -- end page one

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Production Averages
What is the trend in fresh infection rate? (frsh
inf/frsh cows) What is the trend for number of
infections? What is the trend for new infection
rate?
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New Infection Rate
If New Infection Rate is Less than 7 - SCC
will decrease 7-12 - SCC will remain the same
Greater than 12 will tend to increase Reneau
and Farnsworth, Personal Comm.
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Mastitis Treatment Strategies

• Pathogen Profiling (cultures)
• Grading mastitis cases by severity
• Using cost-effective treatment protocols
• Monitoring relapses and SCC

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Clinical MastitisGrading System

• Grade 1
• mild (milk only - clots and flakes)
• Grade 2
• moderate (milk and udder)
• Grade 3
• severe (milk, udder and cow-systemic)

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Protocol for SCC Problem

• 1. Determine the Organism
• Bulk Tank SCC
• Individual Cow Cultures
• 2. When are cows getting infected?
• Hfrs vs. Cows?
• Dry Period?
• During lactation
• 3. Culturing Plan
• Bulk Tank Cultures
• New infections (linear 4)
• New clinical infections
• 4 Treatment Protocol
• 5. Monitoring Plan

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Udder Health Monitor Goals

• 1. Bulk Tank Cultures
• Strep. Ag. 0
• Mycoplasma 0
• Others in Low Category
• 2. Bulk Tank Somatic Cell Count
• goal

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Udder Health Monitor Goals
3. DHI Linear Score Goals
Wallace, 2000
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Udder Health Monitor Goals

• 4. New infection rate
• goal
• 5. New infection rate on fresh cows
• goal
• 6. Clinical mastitis cases
• 7. Mastitis Culling Rate

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Management Practices Associated with Low
(

cleaner free stalls

use more bedding

cleaner drinking cups

remove udder hair

dry cows checked for mastitis daily

cleaner calving pens

fresh cows kept out of bulk tank longer.

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Management Practices Associated with Low
(

more consistent and longer use of teat dipping

more consistent and longer use of dry cow therapy

clinical cases treated for longer duration

more apt to provide nutrient supplements.

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Bottom Line

• Use records to determine who, what when where
  and why
• Set up protocols based on organisms
• Cleanliness is next to godliness
• Low SCC (profitable

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Credits

• Jim Salfer
• Text
• D. Weinand, R.J. Erskine, G. Neubauer, Minnesota
  DHIA