With spring-calving herds coming near to the end of their lactation, it is critical to have a robust drying-off process.

“In the region of 50% of all clinical mastitis cases can be attributed back to the drying-off process… it’s absolutely critical that we get this right,” Padraig O’Connor from Teagasc said at a CellCheck event on the farm of Co Westmeath Lakeland Dairies supplier George Chambers this week.

O’Connor said there are three key points when approaching the drying off of cows – hygiene, help and time. Without cows being clean or a farmer having the necessary time or help to carry out the work, then mistakes will happen, O’Connor said.

Clearly identify what cows you’re going to dry off

“You need to be ready to go at the drying off of cows, you can’t just approach it last minute. So, what do you need to do?

“Have the cows clean, clipped, washed and dried before going at it. Clearly identify what cows you’re going to dry off. My preference is to wash the cows and dry them well, milk them first and then draft them in the collection yard before running them back into the parlour to dry them off. Obviously make sure the parlour is clean,” he said.

With regards to the diet at the point of drying off, O’Connor said he is “advocating drying off cows abruptly” and not phasing down the diet too much unless autumn-calvers still have plenty of milk.

‘Clockwise, anti-clockwise’

Farmers should use the same routine for tubing and sealing cows, O’Connor said.

“For me, I lay everything I need out on the table. I’m not mad about the wipes that come with the tubes, I prefer cotton wool and spirits. I mark the cow before starting and then I follow the same procedure each time.

“When cleaning the teats, I go front left (quarter), front right (quarter), back right (quarter) and back left (quarter) in circle so you’re not rubbing or brushing off the cows. Then when it comes to tubing, I do the same process but in reverse. Back left, back right, front right, front left and so on.

“If you’re intending on drying off 15 cows, make sure you’ve enough material for five and go again. Once the process is done, make sure the cows are in a dry, clean cubicle so there less of a chance for bacteria to grow.”

Teagasc, Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and dairy co-ops are running the CellCheck events across the country throughout October to help further reduce somatic cell counts in Irish herds as well as helping to drive down the use of antibiotics on farms.

Read more

Hearne family claim NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Award

20 questions with…Finola McCoy, vet and programme manager for CellCheck

New fixed milk price scheme announced by Aurivo