Dry cow diets need to provide adequate selenium and vitamin E, both of which function to strengthen the infection defense systems of the cow. B ody condition scoring is helpful in assuring cattle are not too fat or thin. Fat cows often have difficulty transitioning to lactation and can suffer from fatty livers and downer cow problems. Early lactation cows may not be able to handle the transition period when they have to use body condition to supplement dietary energy intakes and may suffer ketosis. E ach of these factors can pre-dispose cows to other health problems including clinical mastitis.
E valuate the contagious mastitis profile in the herd.
If it is minimal most mastitis problems are likely to be associated with environmental bacteria and clinical cases. Determine if there is a pattern to the occurrence of clinical cases. E valuate pre-milking udder prep procedures. Milking clean dry teats is one of the most effective ways of preventing environmental mastitis and everyone periodically has to be reminded of this. Dirty teats, wet teats and long udder hair all contribute to potential clinical problems due to an increased presence of environmental bacteria.