Tips to Prevent Mastitis
If you have a milk cow, it is possible that you may deal wth mastitis at some point. I have had my share of experience with the affliction.
Speaking from experience, I can say that you can survive it and live happily ever after. If you are in the midst of a mastitis crisis here are some posts that may help:
- go Here – Help! My Cow May Have Mastitis
- go Here – What Causes Mastitis?
- go Here – Is Mastitis Treatable?
- go Here – 9 Reasons to Get a Jersey Cow and 3 Reasons Not to
For those of you who are happily not dealing with any udder infections, here are some tips to keep your family cow healthy and lessen the chances of dealing with mastitis.
#1 Prevent Mastitis: MIlk regularly.
If there is not a calf on the cow, the milk person will need to be timely and efficient. Milk at the same time each day. If there is an infection present, you will probably be milking 4 times a day or more. Be sure to get all the milk out and keep that quarter flowing.
Mastitis-prone cows are not the sort of cow you can put on a OAD (once a day milking) schedule. If you are dreaming of OAD milking, you will want a cow who is a low producer and does not have a history of mastitis.
#2 Prevent Mastitis: Keep the Calf
Having a calf (or 2) on the cow really helps. When the udder is constantly being stripped (totally emptied of milk) it keeps the mastitis at bay.
No one can do this as well as a calf.
#3 Prevent Mastitis: Cleanliness
It is amazing that we don’t all constantly have staph infections. Staph is literally everywhere. It is on every surface around us. I no longer wonder why my cow has mastitis – I wonder why every cow doesn’t have mastitis.
Be sure to commit to a sterile environment when milking.
- Use a clean cloth to clean your cow before milking
- Use a sterile bucket
- Use a bleach solution or an udder cleaning program recommended by your vet
Don’t use dirty rags or buckets. If the cow is exceptionally dirty or muddy be sure to change the water (and cleaning cloth) often so you don’t introduce bacteria into the orifice.
#4 Prevent Mastitis: Teat Dip
Teat dips work. It is a disinfectant solution that sterilizes the skin on the teat. This prevents bacteria from growing between milkings.
#5 Prevent Mastitis: Long Dry Period & Proper Treatment
I am not for antibiotic overuse or unnecessary use. At the same time, in the case of severe infections, I am thankful that strong antibiotics are available.
Typically, cows are dried up 2-3 months before they calve. If you have a questionable quarter, I would be sure the cow had at least three months dry and use a “dry cow” treatment (in that quarter) when drying her off. Using intramammary antibiotics at drying off can greatly reduce the number of mastitis infections and prevent new infections. –source
#6 Prevent Mastitis: Kill the Quarter
If you are devoted to your cow, and she has a dreaded case of mastitis that isn’t going anywhere. And you are SURE it is staph.
You can kill the quarter.
I have not personally ever done this, but I am pretty sure this is an option I would consider if I owned a cow (again) with Staph.
Be sure to be well informed before making this decision. I personally would use a vet to perform this procedure. Killing a quarter does not involve antibiotics, but a chemical (chlorhexidine) is inserted in the quarter that kills all the mammary tissue. I have been told that this procedure is extremely painful for the cow and a vet is necessary so the cow can be given pain meds.
I feel it is important to know that it is possible that even if your cow had mastitis this year, it is possible she could freshen next time with a healthy udder.
#7 Prevent Mastitis: Own a Healthy Milk Cow
I know this is not something most cow-owners want to think about, but if you have a chronically sick cow, culling or selling the (infected) cow is always an option. There are farms/ operations that buy animals even with issues like mastitis.
I know how hard this is to consider, but I have owned a very sick cow. Alternatively, I have owned very healthy cows. If you are milking a chronically sick cow, there is no way for me to explain the misery you are inflicting on your own life and the joy that awaits you.
It wasn’t until my deeply sick cow died that I realized the toll the mastitis was taking on me and my family.
We purchased a new (healthy milk cow) and I was stunned to realize how simple and carefree cow-ownership could be.
If you have any questions please feel free to comment or shoot me an email – candi@farmfreshforlife.com
XO,
Candi
