Longford grassroots dairy discussion group was set up in 2008. The group consists of 19 dairy farmers spread across the county.

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month at a different venue, as set out at the group’s annual general meeting in January each year.

The group found that as part of the annual agenda, milk quality was regularly discussed at farm meetings, but little time was given to focusing on somatic cell count (SCC) at individual level.

Individual SCC levels only became apparent on completion of profit monitors on a yearly basis. With this in mind and to focus more on milk quality (milk solids and SCC, etc.), a monthly data sheet was introduced to the group in February 2011.

As group members were now declaring individual SCC levels on a monthly basis, farmers’ focus quickly moved to reduce infection levels on farm.

As you can see in Figure 1, there is a marked improvement in SCC from 2011. Average SCC for the group improved from 250,000 cells/ml in 2010 to 212,000 in 2011.

2012 performance

Monthly data sheets continued into 2012 and further improvement was evident in the early part of lactation, with overall SCC for the year standing at 185,000 cells/ml.

Despite the progress made, there still seemed to be an issue with overall SCC towards the end of lactation. Although still only at 250,000 at the end of lactation in 2012, it represented a significant worsening from the group average of 138,000 cells/ml in May 2012.

CellCheck programme

In November 2012, Animal Health Ireland launched the CellCheck programme to reduce SCC.

It was quickly decided that group members would complete a CellCheck course and they did so on 1 February 2013. The course was held on the farm of Sean Conefrey, Moyne, Co Longford, and all group members attended.

The meeting was organised by Seamus Nolan and CellCheck regional co-ordinator Tom Downes of Lakeland Dairies.

Following attendance at the workshop, the improvement in SCC for the group across the year is particularly noteworthy.

Average SCC across 2013 improved to 158,000 cells/ml. The improvements already evident in early lactation have now been sustained into late lactation. Average SCC in November 2013 was 176,000.

Group progress

The group made such progress by simply following the guidelines outlined at the workshop and at previous group meetings in terms of infection control and developing an understanding of how infection spreads within herds.

Key actions

One of the main things that a lot of group members took on board was the use of the CMT kit or paddle. The objective of using this is to identify which quarter of the udder is infected. They are available in most co-ops and are cheap and simple.

When a cow comes back high in cell count on milk recording, each quarter can be tested in the paddle to identify which quarter is infected and which needs to be treated.

Another new piece of information that a lot of farmers took on board is to CMT the cow before allowing her milk into the bulk tank. Doing so identifies the cows that need to be treated early and has the effect of keeping the bulk cell count lower at the start of lactation.

The third most common factor that farmers changed was to test cows after treatment to see if the mastitis tube worked when mastitis was identified.

Many farmers were simply treating but not following up to see if the infection had cleared up. Now, the normal protocol for most farmers in the group is that they treat for infection and then test the quarter again using the CMT paddle to see if the treatment worked or what else has to be done.

There is no doubt that some cows had to be culled and the big message that a lot of farmers took from the SCC information is that they need to have enough replacements coming on to remove any suspect cows and be able to cull cows with three quarters, etc.

One of the farmers who increased culling and started keeping more dairy replacements took his average cell count from 300,000 down to one of the lowest in the group.

Where to from here?

When SCC is low, it’s a lot easier to keep it under control, as opposed to constantly battling with it.

Group members continually monitor the situation at farm level and it is regularly discussed at meetings, based on the monthly data sheets.

Those letting standards slip are given a gentle reminder not to get too complacent.

Comment

The progress that the Longford Discussion Group has made in reducing somatic cell count (SCC) is quite phenomenal when you look at Figure 1 and see the decline in average monthly somatic cell counts.

The bulk SCC figures for March to December in 2014 represent data collected at the discussion group meetings.

The farmers explain that it’s not a silver bullet, and it’s not “one thing” that will solve individual farmer problems.

Individual farms will have different problems and it’s not until you go through the full schedule of issues that cause SCC to rise that you will find the potential solutions.

Often, there are two, three or maybe more issues that need to be addressed before average bulk tank cell count will improve.

The improvement needs to be consistent and the flash in the pan remedies that some salesmen often try to sell will be found out sooner rather than later.

Some of the Longford Discussion Group members have found the CMT paddle to be a great tool for identifying an infected quarter. More have found milk recording allows them to keep a better handle on where their herd is.

Analyse your options, make decisions and take actions for your herd.

– Jack Kennedy