The trend in all aspects of life and business in recent times has been for everything to get bigger. Bigger is seen as better.

Nowhere is this more true than in dairy farming. Larger herds result in better utilisation of facilities and labour. This may be true for many jobs around the farm.

However, there is one job that many dairy farmers will be doing in the coming weeks where this approach does not hold true. Drying off cows and the insertion of intramammary tubes, both teat seal and antibiotic into their teats, is a procedure that needs to be done as hygienically as possible. This is best done in small groups. We regularly see cases of mastitis occurring in the 10-day period immediately after drying off. The likelihood is that these flare-ups of infection are as a result of bacteria that entered the teat when dry cow products were being infused.

The first key step to doing a good job is not to be over-ambitious and to dry cows off in small groups after morning milking and a good breakfast. Wear disposable gloves. Have plenty of cotton wool and methylated spirits on hand. Wash and dry each teat thoroughly. Disinfect with the methylated spirits-soaked cotton wool or with medicated wipes. Infuse the antibiotic tube and massage the teat to push the product up into the quarter.

Best practice is to follow with a teat seal product. These products are designed to form a seal at the teat end and in the teat canal to prevent the entry of bacteria while the quarter is dry. As these are inert products whose only function is to create a physical barrier, it is important that the contents of the teat seal tube remains in the teat canal. For this reason, the best approach is to pinch the base of the teat where it is attached to the udder, while infusing the teat seal. This will prevent the teat seal passing up into the quarter where it would be of no benefit.

Tube the nearest teats first and the further away teats last to reduce risk of contaminating teat ends of nearest teats while infusing the further teats.

Finally, teat dip each cow and ensure the cow returns to as clean a lying environment as possible.

It is very difficult to do this job hygienically and keep everything as clean as possible unless you limit yourself to small groups at a time.

Ger Cusack works at Comeragh Veterinary Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford. Comeragh Veterinary is part of XLVets. XLVets is a group of progressive practices working together to achieve a better future for agriculture and veterinary in Ireland. For further information, go to www.xlvets.ie.