The first seminar, titled Developing Agriculture Employee Guidelines, will provide managers with useful human relation skills for new and existing employees. The second seminar, titled Agriculture Employee Growth and Retention, will provide managers with advanced human relations skills needed to retain and reward valuable employees. Recently I have investigated two herds that have a high number of cows and heifers freshening with mastitis. Most of the cows were not infected at dry-off. Milk cultures have shown that mastitis is caused by environmental organisms.
Cows are the most susceptible to environmental mastitis during two periods of time.
The second period is from about two to three weeks before calving through 30 days after calving. There are numerous physiological changes that occur in the cow during these periods that make her particularly vulnerable to environmental bacteria. Prior to dry-off, abruptly decrease milk production. This reduces the possibility of milk leaking and minimizes trauma to the mammary gland when milking is stopped. Stop administration of rBST at least one month before dry-off date.