Dairy Systems Udder Health 1

What are the costs of mastitis?

Increased amount of non-saleable milk

Decreased milk production

Decreased milk quality

Increased treatments

Increased culling

Why is mastitis milk lower quality?

Decreased shelf life, butter content, and cheese

Less premiums if quality is bad

What causes the most amount of economic loss of mastitis?

Reduced production

T/F most dairy herds are family owned?

True

What is happening to dairies over the years?

Number is decreasing and milk production is increasing as genetics and management is getting better

What is the most common breed of cow for dairies?

Black and white holstein because they produce the most milk 90% of all cows

Why are jerseys sometimes used for dairies?

Produce higher fat milk

What is a very good way to prevent mastitis as well as many other diseases?

Ensure a clean and dry housing area

What are the housing types?

Dry lot

Free stall

Tie stall

What is the most common type of housing?

Free stall

Why do we want dairy cows to lie down for at least 12 hours a day?

They produce more milk and are healthier

What housing type to really cold areas use?

Tie stall

What is the majority of milking systems used in the US?

Flatbarn/Stanchion barn or a tie-stall barn

How are the majority of COWS milked in the US?

Parlors

What is the benefit of parlors?

More efficient

how do parlors work?

Load one at a time and the have a rapid exit

What is the 2nd highest cost for daries?

Labor, always try to improve efficiency

What is the holding pen?

Where cows stand before going into parlor to be milked

What does the moving crowd gate do?

Keeps cows moving into the parlor and allows for the holding pen to be filled

What is the return alley?

Lane back to their feed and rest areas after milking

What is a ride around?

A dairy cattle that loves the parlor and doesnt want to leave so staff lets them go around 1 more time

What is the benefit of feeding while they are on the parlor?

You can feed on an individual basis. Not everyone does it might be a new thing in the future

Why are daries moving towards robotic/automatic milking systems?

It is hard to get milkers. It cleans and milks the teats all on its own

What is the downside to robotic milking systems?

Very expensive and milks slower than alternatives

How do they get milk out of the udder?

Vacuum pressure

What are the 2 phases of milking?

Vacuum to get milk out

Massage phase where atmospheric air enters to massage teat and prevent congestion of blood

What is the bulk tank?

Where milk is collected and transported to the milk company

What is the purpose of the bulk tank?

Must cool milk to 42F within 2 hours of milking

Samples for milk cultures are collected here

How long does milk after calving and or antimicrobials/NSAID administration need to be dumped for?

6 milkings

What is all milk tested for?

4 of the 6 beta lactams

Tetracycline

What is the most common class of antibiotics found in milk above tolerance levels?

beta-lactams

T/F random samples of milk are tested for other antibiotics, NSAIDs and antihistamines?

True

Who tests for milk contamination?

FDA

What are the majority of antimicrobials used on a dairy used for?

Mastitis

T/F anything we can do to reduce subclinical and clinical mastitis is justified?

True

T/F we are getting better at preventing antibiotics from milk?

True

What happens if there is a residue in milk?

Grade A permit suspension

Milk sales on hold until further notice

Milk is disposed of so it cannot enter human and animal food chain

Producer is liable for all milk on the contaminated load

How do you get reinstated after a residue in milk?

Representative milk samples tested and not positive for drug residue

When are calves weaned?

5-6 weaned (go from liquid to solid diet)

When do calves breed?

13-15 months old and then 50 days post calving

When do we want dairy cattle to calve?

22-24 months

When do we stop milking cattle?

305 days post calving

How long after beginning dry off do they calve again?

45-60 days after

Why is it so important for cattle to dry off before the next calve and milking cycle?

It allows the udder to rest and involude. Very important for health

What is the main reason why cattle are culled?

There are younger animals that have better production

When is the greatest risk for mastitis?

Right after drying off, prior to or just after calving

For every clinical case of mastitis how many subclinical cases are there?

15-40

T/F subclinical mastitis is just as important economically as clinical?

True

What is prepping a cow?

Cleaning udder getting ready for milking

Stimulates milk let down

Milk quickly to minimize negative teat effects

Describe what happens when something touches the teat or the cow hears and smells the milking area?

1. Nerve impulses to hypothalamus then to posterior pituitary

2. Post pituitary releases oxytocin

3. Oxytocin reaches myoepithelial cells in mammary gland

4. Myoepithelial cells constrict causing milk to be secreted into the ducts

5. Milking unit removes milk from ducts and cisterns

What can over ride oxytocin to allow for milking?

Epinephrine (stress)

How do you prep a teat?

Dip teats in antiseptic and allow for 30sec contact time

Strip and squirt a little milk from each teat

Wipe clean

About 60-120 seconds after touching the milking unit will be attached at maximum oxytocin

Why do they strip each teat?

Gets rid of most somatic cells

Allows to screen for mastitis or other unhealthy milk

Stimulates oxytocin

Why do we want to minimize the amount of time the milking unit is on the teats/

Detrimental effect to teat health if left on for too long

Extended unity on times are additive and accumulative across many days

What does a bimodal pattern mean?

There is a slow letdown meaning that the prep procedure is wrong and milking is not starting at maximum oxytocin