Page 6 - CellCheck Newsletter February #5 2015
P. 6
CELLCHECK NEWSLETTER
CELLCHECK TIP OF THE MONTH
Healthy heifers
PRODUCING replacement heifers for a herd can be a costly business - €1,451 according to
Teagasc research. On average, it takes almost two lactatons before this animal has covered her cost
of producton and starts generatng income for you. With an investment like this, it’s important to
ensure that these animals have the best chance of producing top quality milk, for as long as possible
within the herd.
Don’t assume that 1st lactaton animals are mastts-free when they join the milking herd. Recent
analysis of Irish milk recording herds showed that 23% of 1st lactaton animals recorded within the
1st month of calving had a somatc cell count (SCC) over 200,000 cells/mL, while 13% had an SCC over
400,000 cells/mL. An SCC over 200,000 cells/mL is an indicator of at least one infected quarter. This
research also showed that the milk yield of the 1st lactaton animals with a frst SCC over 400,000
cells/mL was reduced by 102 litres in that lactaton and by 839 litres over their lifetme. Preventng
mastts in heifers is the key to ensuring productvity and longevity in the herd.
1. Check all quarters of all heifers with a California Mastts Test (CMT) before milking them
into the bulk tank, to identfy any high SCC quarters.
2. Take a milk sample from any heifer that calves down with mastts (clinical or
subclinical), label it well and freeze it. You then have a bank of samples that can be
cultured to identfy the common bacteria, if necessary. This will help you investgate and
20150202 CCK NEWLET v1.0 3. New Zealand research has shown that teat spraying in-calf heifers three tmes a week,
prevent the problem recurring in the future.
for at least 3 weeks before calving, signifcantly reduced the incidence of mastts caused
by Strep. uberis at calving.
PAGE 6 For more informaton see the CellCheck Farm Guidelines for Mastts Control
CELLCHECK TIP OF THE MONTH
Healthy heifers
PRODUCING replacement heifers for a herd can be a costly business - €1,451 according to
Teagasc research. On average, it takes almost two lactatons before this animal has covered her cost
of producton and starts generatng income for you. With an investment like this, it’s important to
ensure that these animals have the best chance of producing top quality milk, for as long as possible
within the herd.
Don’t assume that 1st lactaton animals are mastts-free when they join the milking herd. Recent
analysis of Irish milk recording herds showed that 23% of 1st lactaton animals recorded within the
1st month of calving had a somatc cell count (SCC) over 200,000 cells/mL, while 13% had an SCC over
400,000 cells/mL. An SCC over 200,000 cells/mL is an indicator of at least one infected quarter. This
research also showed that the milk yield of the 1st lactaton animals with a frst SCC over 400,000
cells/mL was reduced by 102 litres in that lactaton and by 839 litres over their lifetme. Preventng
mastts in heifers is the key to ensuring productvity and longevity in the herd.
1. Check all quarters of all heifers with a California Mastts Test (CMT) before milking them
into the bulk tank, to identfy any high SCC quarters.
2. Take a milk sample from any heifer that calves down with mastts (clinical or
subclinical), label it well and freeze it. You then have a bank of samples that can be
cultured to identfy the common bacteria, if necessary. This will help you investgate and
20150202 CCK NEWLET v1.0 3. New Zealand research has shown that teat spraying in-calf heifers three tmes a week,
prevent the problem recurring in the future.
for at least 3 weeks before calving, signifcantly reduced the incidence of mastts caused
by Strep. uberis at calving.
PAGE 6 For more informaton see the CellCheck Farm Guidelines for Mastts Control
