RESEARCH REPORT / GRADUATION ASSIGNMENT:MILKRITE IMPULSE AIR IN PRACTICE AUTHOR: GIJS HAMPSINK / TEL: +31 (0) 648 461 706

MILKRITE

IN PRACTICECareless and large-scale use of antibiotics in dairy farming increases the risk of bacteria becoming resistant and thereby creates a risk to public health. Poor udder health is a major detrimental effect in this respect. Milking with Milkrite’s Impulse Air is intended to improve the udder health of cows. This is all very well in theory, but what do we learn from actual practice?

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RESULTS

Teat condition improved greatly (52.3% had better teat condition, 43.5% remained the same) within two months!

The tank somatic cell count fell by 12,060 cells per ml in three months, which yielded a financial benefit of €7.20 per cow per annum (financial benefit determined from studying literature).

According to the research, the number of cases of clinical mastitis fell by 4.8% per quarter after the farms had changed over to Impulse Air. This yielded a financial benefit of €44.00 per cow per annum (financial benefit determined from studying literature).

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What effect does Impulse Air have on the udder health of cows?The research was divided into two parts:

The first part covered the tank somatic cell count and the number of cases of mastitis, and was carried out at 32 farms (average number of cows 175). The research was carried out at farm level, on the basis of historical data during the three months before and after changing over to Impulse Air.

In the second part, the teat condition of the cows at six farms (579 cows in total) was examined. The quality of the teats was examined in the week of the changeover to Impulse Air and two months after the changeover.

Tank somatic cell count falls by 12,060 cells per ml

Mastitis cases fall by 4.8% per quarter

To clearly illustrate the effect of Impulse Air on the tank somatic cell count, the difference between the average tank somatic cell count in the Netherlands and that at the farms that participated in the research is shown in a histogram (see the figure on the right). The results have been corrected for seasonal effects. It can be seen in the diagram that the difference remained reasonably constant in the period before the farmers used Impulse Air. Impulse Air was installed between weeks 12 and 14, after which the difference immediately became twice as great (the difference from the average tank somatic cell count in the Netherlands in week 12 was -6,940, and in week 14 it was -13.970). The longer Impulse Air was used during milking, the greater the difference from the average tank somatic cell count in the Netherlands became.

Of the 32 participating farms, 20 were suitable for participating in the clinical mastitis survey (these farms kept details of their cases of clinical mastitis). The reduction in the number of cases of clinical mastitis was huge. Before farmers started using Impulse Air for milking, 8.2% of cows had clinical mastitis in the three months before the changeover. This fell to 3.4% in the three months after the changeover. This was a reduction of 4.8%, resulting in a financial benefit of 11 euros per cow per quarter (financial benefit determined from studying literature).

Difference between the average tank somatic cell count in the Netherlands and that at the farms

participating in the research. (Average difference in somatic cell count x 1000)

Percentage of mastitis cases before and after changing over to Impulse Air

Teat condition improvedThe liner has the greatest effect on teat condition because it is in direct contact. The teat condition of 579 cows on six farms was assessed twice. When these cows were milked using Impulse Air, the teat condition of 4.2% of them worsened, 52.3% had improved teat condition, and the teat condition of 43.5% remained the same.

Kruistabel met daarin de speenconditie weergegeven.

TEAT CONDITION BEFORE

Smooth teat orifice Thin callus ring Thick callus ring Rough teat orifice

Count Count Count Count

TEAT CONDITION AFTER Smooth teat orifice 85 168 35 2

Thin callus ring 22 157 88 8

Thick callus ring 1 2 9 2

Rough teat orifice 0 0 0 0

Changeover to Milkrite Impulse Air

Without Milkrite Impulse Air With Milkrite Impulse Air

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Mastitis percentage afterMastitis percentage before

Error Bars: 95% CI

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For more information, please contact Milkrite under +44 (0) 870 731 5010 or via email: sales@milkrite.com