Post by pipergrey93 on May 2, 2011 21:29:27 GMT -5
Today I talked to my AI guy (and 3rd generation dairy farmer). I always pick his brain every chance I get b/c his experience and his family's has been invaluable to me. His jerseys (over 100 lactating) are some of the healthiest girls I've ever seen.
He told me something that really surprised me but I can't discount what he says as he's usually right. He strips his girls (heifers) once 2 weeks before they calve and infuses their teats with "Today". He said a recent study at UT Knoxville backed him up on this. He's very active in the various jersey and diary organizations as well as being very current on the different studies.
I'm torn as to what to do and have PM'd Aspengrove to get his opinion. The dairy farmer has been doing this for years and swears by it.
He thinks it's particularly important in heifers calving during the heat of the summer when mastitis rates go up. Mine is due in July.
Has anyone else read any studies regarding this or have any experience? Hopefully I'll get Aspengrove's opinion soon. I know there is a tread about doing this when there are signs of mastitis and Aspengrove agreed as well as Claire (I think), but this is the first I've heard about doing it with no signs of mastitis, but purely as a preventative measure.
Sandy
Here is Aspengrove's response who agrees and does it himself. I'm surprised but believe I will start doing it!
"UT did a study which found it beneficial to treat heifers approx 2 weeks prior to calving with a lactating cow formula. However, they did not recommend milking them out. Simply (which may not be so simple if they decide to kick) clean the teat end, strip out 3 - 4 strips from each teat, and infuse each one with a tube of a lactating cow mastitis formula. You should dip the teats after treating with a teat dip. It will definitely reduce heifer mastitis in freshening heifers. Strip is milking out a few squirts. Yes, it is a practice that I use on my heifers. With cows, they should be treated with a dry cow product when they are turned dry, so they would not need to be treated again before freshening." - Aspengrove
He told me something that really surprised me but I can't discount what he says as he's usually right. He strips his girls (heifers) once 2 weeks before they calve and infuses their teats with "Today". He said a recent study at UT Knoxville backed him up on this. He's very active in the various jersey and diary organizations as well as being very current on the different studies.
I'm torn as to what to do and have PM'd Aspengrove to get his opinion. The dairy farmer has been doing this for years and swears by it.
He thinks it's particularly important in heifers calving during the heat of the summer when mastitis rates go up. Mine is due in July.
Has anyone else read any studies regarding this or have any experience? Hopefully I'll get Aspengrove's opinion soon. I know there is a tread about doing this when there are signs of mastitis and Aspengrove agreed as well as Claire (I think), but this is the first I've heard about doing it with no signs of mastitis, but purely as a preventative measure.
Sandy
Here is Aspengrove's response who agrees and does it himself. I'm surprised but believe I will start doing it!
"UT did a study which found it beneficial to treat heifers approx 2 weeks prior to calving with a lactating cow formula. However, they did not recommend milking them out. Simply (which may not be so simple if they decide to kick) clean the teat end, strip out 3 - 4 strips from each teat, and infuse each one with a tube of a lactating cow mastitis formula. You should dip the teats after treating with a teat dip. It will definitely reduce heifer mastitis in freshening heifers. Strip is milking out a few squirts. Yes, it is a practice that I use on my heifers. With cows, they should be treated with a dry cow product when they are turned dry, so they would not need to be treated again before freshening." - Aspengrove