USING RECORDS TO MANAGE SOMATIC CELL COUNT

1. USING RECORDS TO MANAGE SOMATIC CELL COUNT Jim Salfer - U of MN Ext. Service

2. Level of Mastitis (SCC) = Number of Infected Cows x Duration of Those Infections + Rate of New Infections

3. ? ? Who ? ? What ? When ? Where ? ? Why ?

4. Somatic Cell Count and Relationship to Milk Losses

5. Records to Keep • Bulk Tank SCC • DHIA Data • Bulk Tank Cultures • Treatment Records • Individual Cow Cultures

6. Contagious Organisms • Streptococcus agalactiae • Responds to treatment • Staphylococcus aureus • Does not respond well • to treatment • Mycoplasma spp. • Uncommon in MN • Does not respond to treatment

7. Environmental Organisms • Non ag strep • Can be high in bedding • Can act chronic - particularly Strep uberius • Staph species • Primarily Staph Epidermidis - normal inhabitant of skin • Coliform • E Coli - source is feces • Klebsiella - Source can be bedding • Culture Bedding - < 1M / g

8. Gram Positive/Gram Negative • Gram Positive • Staphs • Streps • Gram Negative • E. coli • Klebsiella

9. Gram Positive Mastitis • Gram (+) become chronic if not treated with the right antibiotic • NMC recommendations -- “treat Gram (+) lactating mastitis early”

10. Gram Negative Mastitis • University research -- coliform bacteria gone by the time we see abnormal milk • Neutrophils (white blood cells) clear infection • Clinical signs due to endotoxins (dead bacteria) • Antibiotic treatment only supportive

11. Bulk Tank Cultures

12. Cow Cultures

13. Strep. Ag. Problem • Responds well to treatment • Identify infected Cows • Work with Veterinarian on Treatment/Culture • Protocol • Focus on teat dip coverage

14. S. Aureus. Problem • Does not respond well to treatment • ID infected Cows (ear tags, ear notches, brand) • Segregate and milk last to prevent spread • Infections caught early may respond to treatment • Focus on teat dip coverage to prevent colonization

15. Environmental Problem • Varied response to treatment • Often caused by milking wet, dirty teats • Focus on Teat Ends!!!! • Focus on clean, dry comfortable environment

16. DHI Records

17. DHI Records

18. When are cows being infected? Adapted from the DHI Somatic Cell Reports Annual timeline -- Where do infections occur?

19. When are cows being infected? Early Lactation = Dry Cow Problem Mid or Late Lactation = Cow Prep or Lactation Housing Problem

20. DHI Records Is it only a few cows contributing to the the problem

21. Linear Evaluation of a Herd with a Contagious Mastitis Problem

22. Linear Evaluation of a Herd with an Environmental Mastitis Problem

23. Number infections - Count of all infected milking cows Fresh infections - Count of infected fresh cows Number new infections - Count of cows with new infection Percent new infections - Percent cows exposed that got infected -- end page one

24. Production Averages What is the trend in fresh infection rate? (frsh inf/frsh cows) What is the trend for number of infections? What is the trend for new infection rate?

25. NewInfection Rate • If New Infection Rate is: • Less than 7% - SCC will decrease • 7-12% - SCC will remain the same • Greater than 12% will tend to increase • Reneau and Farnsworth, Personal Comm.

26. Mastitis Treatment Strategies • Pathogen Profiling (cultures) • Grading mastitis cases by severity • Using cost-effective treatment protocols • Monitoring relapses and SCC

27. Clinical MastitisGrading System • Grade 1 • mild (milk only - clots and flakes) • Grade 2 • moderate (milk and udder) • Grade 3 • severe (milk, udder and cow-systemic)

28. Protocol for SCC Problem • 1. Determine the Organism • Bulk Tank SCC • Individual Cow Cultures • 2. When are cows getting infected? • Hfrs vs. Cows? • Dry Period? • During lactation • 3. Culturing Plan • Bulk Tank Cultures • New infections (linear > 4) • New clinical infections • 4 Treatment Protocol • 5. Monitoring Plan

29. Udder Health Monitor Goals • 1. Bulk Tank Cultures • Strep. Ag. = 0 • Mycoplasma = 0 • Others in Low Category • 2. Bulk Tank Somatic Cell Count • goal < 200,000

30. Udder Health Monitor Goals 3. DHI Linear Score Goals Wallace, 2000

31. Udder Health Monitor Goals • 4. New infection rate • goal < 7%/month • 5. New infection rate on fresh cows • goal < 20%/month • 6. Clinical mastitis cases • < 2% per month • 7. Mastitis Culling Rate • < 10% per year (Wallace, 2000)

32. Management Practices Associated with “Low” (<150,000) Bulk Tank SCC • cleaner free stalls • use more bedding • cleaner drinking cups • remove udder hair • dry cows checked for mastitis daily • cleaner calving pens • fresh cows kept out of bulk tank longer.

33. Management Practices Associated with “Low” (<150,000) Bulk Tank SCC • more consistent and longer use of teat dipping • more consistent and longer use of dry cow therapy • clinical cases treated for longer duration • more apt to provide nutrient supplements.

34. Bottom Line • Use records to determine: who, what when where and why • Set up protocols based on organisms • Cleanliness is next to godliness • Low SCC (<200,000) is very achievable and profitable

35. Credits • Jim Salfer • Text • D. Weinand, R.J. Erskine, G. Neubauer, Minnesota DHIA