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• Count Down Down Under

Count Down Down Under

Cows are very susceptible to infection around calving because their natural defence mechanisms are low. New infections occur, and subclinical infections which have persisted through the dry period may flare into clinical cases. Induced cows are even more vulnerable to mastitis infections because their immune systems have reduced efficiency at that time. Around calving, the udder is often filled with milk for relatively long periods without the flushing effect of being milked. Bacteria may enter the end of the teat, particularly if high udder pressure opens the teat canals. They can then multiply and establish infections. High numbers of environmental mastitis bacteria may contaminate teats, especially if udders are wet and exposed to mud and manure. This can happen easily when cows and heifers are on the ground during calving. Because of the high incidence of mastitis in the first month after calving, special care in this period will pay off.

Calve on clean, dry pasture or on a clean, dry calving pad.

Pasture or pads for calving must have minimal manure contamination. If more than two pats of manure are present per square metre, it is not clean enough for calving cows. The calving area should be sheltered and well drained. Avoid pugging and mud. If water is visible on the surface or in your gumboot prints, it is not dry enough for calving cows.

It is important to check for abnormal milk and treat infections rapidly.

Be alert to the number of cases of mastitis occurring, especially in freshly calved heifers. This is an indicator of the state of the paddock.
If three or more cases have occurred in the last 50 calvings, you should move the springers to a new area, or renovate the pad.

Bring cows into the dairy as soon as possible to milk out and check - certainly within 24 hours of calving.
A new calf cannot suck all the milk from a fresh cow. Do not leave cows standing in the paddock dripping milk - bring them into the dairy, check udders, machine milk and disinfect teats (dip or spray).

Milk out completely - use milk fever control methods such as dietary control or calcium treatment (not incomplete milking) to prevent milk fever.

Take special care with induced cows.

• Keep them in clean, dry paddocks after induction.
• Machine milk them if they bag up tightly.
• Don't let them drip milk in the paddock.
• Watch udders carefully for signs of mastitis. Some cases can be rapid and severe with few changes or abnormalities (e.g. watery milk, clots or flecks) in the milk at first.