Once your client has decided to call in your help to reduce somatic cell counts in the herd, you should follow a structured approach. First, you should determine whether it’s localised or dispersed, whether it’s chronic or not, and which group of animals is most affected. A decision diagram can help with a systematic approach.
This will determine the approach, e.g., whether you need to help your farmer to help reduce infection pressure on the farm and set up an effective farm treatment plan for mastitis, or whether it’s time for a dynamic (‘wet’) milking assessment to assess that the milker and milking machine are working properly. It also allows the expert to assess other factors affecting udder health, such as barn hygiene, nutrition, and the general health of cows.
Always remember the 5-point plan: infection pressure, resistance, milking, treatment, and monitoring.