NATIONAL MASTITIS CONTROL PROGRAMME FREE DRY COW CONSULT

Are you Milk Recording? Is your bulk tank SCC consistently below 200,000 cells/mL? Are you ready to reduce antibiotic use at drying off?

If so, then your herd may be suitable for a selective dry cow therapy strategy this winter. With the right hygiene, management and support, many herds are successfully reducing their antibiotic use at drying off, by developing selective dry cow strategies in consultation with their veterinary practitioners. A free Dry Cow Consult is available again this year for eligible herds, delivered through the Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health, funded by the Rural Development Programme and coordinated by Animal Health Ireland.

This 3-hour consultation is carried out with your selected trained veterinary practitioner and is an opportunity to assess the current drying off process and dry period performance and identify additional gains that can be made. Milk recording results and farm records will also be analysed to identify individual animals that may be suitable for a ‘non-antibiotic’ dry off, and the best way of implementing this.

It is important to remember that a selective dry cow strategy is not without risk and is not something to embark on without seeking professional support and advice.

For more information, and to submit an application for a Dry Cow Consult, see http://www.animalhealthireland.ie or call AHI office on 071 9671928.