Mastitis can be a big problem at this time of the year – here are main ways to prevent it:

  • Fly repellents like pour-on and spot-on (not pour on wormers as these do not repel flies) and fly tags for the ears. Other products like Stockholm Tar on the udder twice weekly work well at the peak fly time when the flies are “savage”.
  • We need to ensure they have adequate dry cow therapy in the form of teat sealants and if appropriate antibiotic dry cow tubes, which will last all summer and not run out half way through.
  • If available, a barrier teat dip which forms a layer on the outside of the teat to seal it off from flies, but it may need to be reapplied.
  • Management practices like keeping the cows on higher exposed fields can have a huge effect on reducing fly numbers – meadows with high hedges are high risk.
  • Moving the cows every month to clean pasture has been shown to reduce mastitis after calving.
  • Treatment of the quarter can be successful if caught early enough, but the quarter(s) are often “lost”.
  • The infected quarter(s) will need to be stripped out completely and treated with a milking cow tube.
  • Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory injections may be necessary if the infection is serious.
  • The cow will need to be treated for as long as it takes to kill the infection in the udder.
  • The use of a dry cow tube and sealant after the infection is killed will help to ensure there are no relapses of mastitis but be mindful of the cow’s due calving date.
  • The infection may return so be sure to carefully watch the cow for a time after treatment is finished.

    • Craig McAlister, MRCVS, Parklands Veterinary Group, Northern Ireland

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