USING RECORDSUSING RECORDS

TOTO

MANAGE SOMATIC CELL COUNTMANAGE SOMATIC CELL COUNT

Jim Salfer - U of MN Ext. ServiceJim Salfer - U of MN Ext. Service

Number of Infected Cows Number of Infected Cows x x

Duration of Those InfectionsDuration of Those Infections

++

Rate of New InfectionsRate of New Infections

Level of Mastitis (SCC) =Level of Mastitis (SCC) =

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??WhoWho

What What

WhenWhen

WhereWhere

WhyWhy

Somatic Cell Count and Somatic Cell Count and Relationship to Milk LossesRelationship to Milk Losses

Daily Yield Lost Lactation Yield Lost

Linear Score

First Lactation

Older Cow

First Lactation

Older Cows

----------Lbs/Day-------- Lbs/Lactation

0-2 0 0 0 0

3 0.6 1.3 200 400 4 1.3 2.6 400 800

5 2 3.9 600 1200

6 2.6 5.2 800 1600

7 3.3 6.6 1000 2000

8 3.9 7.9 1200 2400

9 4.6 9.2

Records to KeepRecords to Keep

•Bulk Tank SCCBulk Tank SCC

•DHIA DataDHIA Data

•Bulk Tank CulturesBulk Tank Cultures

•Treatment RecordsTreatment Records

•Individual Cow CulturesIndividual Cow Cultures

Contagious OrganismsContagious Organisms

•Streptococcus agalactiaeStreptococcus agalactiaeResponds to treatmentResponds to treatment

•Staphylococcus aureusStaphylococcus aureusDoes not respond wellDoes not respond wellto treatmentto treatment

•Mycoplasma spp.Mycoplasma spp.Uncommon in MNUncommon in MNDoes not respond to treatmentDoes not respond to treatment

Environmental OrganismsEnvironmental Organisms

•Non ag strep Non ag strep Can be high in beddingCan be high in beddingCan act chronic - particularly Strep uberiusCan act chronic - particularly Strep uberius

•Staph speciesStaph speciesPrimarily Staph Epidermidis - normal inhabitant of skinPrimarily Staph Epidermidis - normal inhabitant of skin

•Coliform Coliform E Coli - source is fecesE Coli - source is fecesKlebsiella - Source can be beddingKlebsiella - Source can be bedding

•Culture Bedding - < 1M / gCulture Bedding - < 1M / g

Gram Positive/Gram Negative

• Gram Positive– Staphs

– Streps

• Gram Negative– E. coli

– Klebsiella

Gram Positive Mastitis

• Gram (+) become chronic if not treated with the right antibiotic

• NMC recommendations -- “treat Gram (+) lactating mastitis early”

Gram Negative Mastitis

• University research -- coliform bacteria gone by the time we see abnormal milk

• Neutrophils (white blood cells) clear infection

• Clinical signs due to endotoxins (dead bacteria)

• Antibiotic treatment only supportive

Bulk Tank Cultures

Cow Cultures

Strep. Ag. ProblemStrep. Ag. Problem

•Responds well to treatmentResponds well to treatment

•Identify infected Cows Identify infected Cows

•Work with Veterinarian on Treatment/CultureWork with Veterinarian on Treatment/CultureProtocolProtocol

Focus on teat dip coverageFocus on teat dip coverage

S. Aureus. ProblemS. Aureus. Problem

•Does not respond well to treatmentDoes not respond well to treatment

•ID infected Cows (ear tags, ear notches, brand) ID infected Cows (ear tags, ear notches, brand)

•Segregate and milk last to prevent spreadSegregate and milk last to prevent spread

•Infections caught early may respond to treatmentInfections caught early may respond to treatment

•Focus on teat dip coverage to prevent colonizationFocus on teat dip coverage to prevent colonization

Environmental ProblemEnvironmental Problem

•Varied response to treatmentVaried response to treatment

•Often caused by milking wet, dirty teatsOften caused by milking wet, dirty teats

•Focus on Teat Ends!!!!Focus on Teat Ends!!!!

•Focus on clean, dry comfortable environmentFocus on clean, dry comfortable environment

DHI Herdcode Type Test Code Assoc FREP Breed Cows Days Lab Date P rocesssed

41-99-9989 31 DHI-AP 97 97BD H 49 34 7/23 8/25/99 8/26 8/27

Herd Summary

Test Interval

4K FARMS 18038 203RD AVE BIG LAKE MN 55309 < 40 40-70 > 70

82 1 27 23% 90% 7%

Dry Period Summary

Avg Days

Cows by Days Dry

Based on 30 cows

Milk $ Value DIM Milk Current C-L

26,701 3,141 100 1 26 170 75 78 72 +1.427,368 3,196 102 2 12 206 62 91 61 -13.325,784 3,081 98 3+ 19 221 69 98 66 -3.726,557 3,134 100 All 57 193 70 87 68 -2.8

Peak Ratio (1st/ others) is 0.82

Peak and Persistency305 ME P rod

Index Lact Cows DIM

P eak MLMDHI 3497

Sold 3536Shipped 99%

Value $490$ / cw t 14.00

Daily Milk

0,1 2,3 4,5,6 7,8,9

24 2.8 25 1 33 41 21 410 2.7 40 2 40 20 40 16 3.4 38 3+ 18 43 31 650 3.0 32 All 30 38 28 4

Current SCC Evaluation

Number Cows

SCC LS

% Infec

Lact % Cow s by Linear Score

All All

<100 1-200 <200 Cow s Cow s <100 1-200 >200

63 76 87 74 1 72 67 72 8059 82 94 82 2 61 45 78 9261 86 101 86 3+ 66 48 70 10962 81 95 80 All 68 56 72 92

Based on 7 tests

Management Level MilkAnnual Summary

Lact

Current Test

Days in Milk Days in Milk< 30 30-220 > 220

1 26 17 302 33 35 293+ 47 32 33All 35 27 30

Yearly SCC Summary

Based on 596 tests

Lact% Infected by DIM

Cures Chronics Cures Chronics

17% 17% 4% 30%Negatives New Infections Negatives New Infections

45% 21% 61% 4%

Changes in SCC Status

Fresh vs Last Dry Off Current vs Last Test

Based on 29 cows Based on 46 cows

Number %

24604 892 758 57 88 61 99 8/25/99 50 5 193 70 68 3.5 3.1 240 3.0 16 0 2 424356 880 751 59 88 63 103 7/22/99 52 6 182 71 71 3.7 3.0 210 3.2 22 3 9 1724311 877 750 59 83 60 101 6/24/99 49 7 207 73 79 3.5 3.0 208 3.1 19 3 8 1624252 873 751 57 86 67 100 5/20/99 49 3 203 78 87 3.8 3.0 366 3.2 15 3 8 1624227 867 751 56 91 68 101 4/19/99 51 1 204 75 82 3.8 3.0 213 2.9 15 1 7 1424407 866 757 58 93 72 101 3/19/99 54 2 188 77 85 3.8 3.1 327 2.9 14 2 2 424591 869 762 55 91 71 99 2/19/99 50 198 78 81 3.5 3.1 149 2.6 10 0 3 624590 867 761 53 96 72 100 1/21/99 51 1 180 75 75 3.8 3.1 262 2.9 13 0 8 1624542 864 760 54 94 72 100 12/23/98 51 3 168 77 72 3.5 3.0 198 2.8 11 0 7 1424451 859 757 53 92 73 101 11/20/98 49 2 154 79 70 3.5 3.1 193 2.8 10 0 3 624353 854 755 58 84 65 101 10/22/98 49 3 158 77 67 3.4 3.1 322 3.0 16 0 7 1424421 859 756 57 86 60 102 9/23/98 49 9 148 70 64 3.4 3.0 201 3.1 13 0 4 824630 870 762 57 79 58 101 8/19/98 45 6 161 73 71 3.4 3.0 218 3.4 18 0 7 16

56 89 66 100 AVG 50 4 180 75 75 3.6 3.1 239 3.0 15 2 6 12

New InfectionsFresh Infections

Date % P rotein

Raw SCC

SCC LS

Num Infections

DIM Milk MLM%

FatMilk

% Ship

Milk Cows

Fresh Cows

Production Averages

All Cows

Rolling Herd Test Day Quantity Quality

Milk Fat Protein% in Milk

DHI Records

DHI Records

< 30 30-220 > 220

1 26 17 302 33 35 293+ 47 32 33All 35 27 30

Yearly SCC Summary

Based on 596 tests

Lact% Infected by DIM

Adapted from the DHI Somatic Cell Reports

Annual timeline -- Where do infections occur?

When are cows being infected?

When are cows being infected?

EarlyLactation

=Dry Cow

Problem

Mid or Late Lactation=

Cow Prep or

Lactation Housing Problem

Is it only a fewcows

contributing to the the problem

DHI Records

0,1 2,3 4,5,6 7,8,9

36 4.0 55 1 15 30 41 1428 5.1 78 2 10 12 64 1418 5.2 69 3+ 13 18 45 2482 4.8 67 All 13 20 50 17

Current SCC Evaluation

Number Cows

SCC LS

% Infec

Lact % Cow s by Linear Score

Linear Evaluation of a HerdLinear Evaluation of a Herdwith a Contagious Mastitiswith a Contagious Mastitis

ProblemProblem

0,1 2,3 4,5,6 7,8,9

41 3.4 44 1 31 25 27 1733 4.3 68 2 21 11 51 1725 4.5 67 3+ 18 15 49 1899 4.0 59 All 23 17 42 17

Current SCC Evaluation

Number Cows

SCC LS

% Infec

Lact % Cow s by Linear Score

Linear Evaluation of a HerdLinear Evaluation of a Herdwith an Environmental Mastitiswith an Environmental Mastitis

ProblemProblem

Number infections - Count of all infected milking cows

Fresh infections - Count of infected fresh cows

Number new infections - Count of cows with new infection

Percent new infections - Percent cows exposed that got infected

-- end page one

Number %

240 3.0 16 0 2 4

New InfectionsFresh Infections

Raw SCC

SCC LS

Num Infections

Quality

Number %

8/25/99 50 5 193 70 68 3.5 3.1 240 3.0 16 0 2 47/22/99 52 6 182 71 71 3.7 3.0 210 3.2 22 3 9 176/24/99 49 7 207 73 79 3.5 3.0 208 3.1 19 3 8 165/20/99 49 3 203 78 87 3.8 3.0 366 3.2 15 3 8 164/19/99 51 1 204 75 82 3.8 3.0 213 2.9 15 1 7 143/19/99 54 2 188 77 85 3.8 3.1 327 2.9 14 2 2 42/19/99 50 198 78 81 3.5 3.1 149 2.6 10 0 3 61/21/99 51 1 180 75 75 3.8 3.1 262 2.9 13 0 8 1612/23/98 51 3 168 77 72 3.5 3.0 198 2.8 11 0 7 1411/20/98 49 2 154 79 70 3.5 3.1 193 2.8 10 0 3 610/22/98 49 3 158 77 67 3.4 3.1 322 3.0 16 0 7 149/23/98 49 9 148 70 64 3.4 3.0 201 3.1 13 0 4 88/19/98 45 6 161 73 71 3.4 3.0 218 3.4 18 0 7 16

AVG 50 4 180 75 75 3.6 3.1 239 3.0 15 2 6 12

New InfectionsFresh Infections

Date % P rotein

Raw SCC

SCC LS

Num Infections

DIM Milk MLM%

FatMilk

CowsFresh Cows

Quantity Quality

Production AveragesProduction Averages

What is the trend in fresh infection rate? (frsh inf/frsh cows)What is the trend in fresh infection rate? (frsh inf/frsh cows)What is the trend for number of infections?What is the trend for number of infections?What is the trend for new infection rate?What is the trend for new infection rate?

If New Infection Rate is:If New Infection Rate is:

Less than 7% - SCC will decreaseLess than 7% - SCC will decrease

7-12% - SCC will remain the same 7-12% - SCC will remain the same

Greater than 12% will tend to Greater than 12% will tend to

increaseincreaseReneau and Farnsworth, Personal Comm.Reneau and Farnsworth, Personal Comm.

NewNew Infection RateInfection Rate

Mastitis Treatment Strategies

• Pathogen Profiling (cultures)• Grading mastitis cases by severity• Using cost-effective treatment

protocols• Monitoring relapses and SCC

Clinical MastitisGrading System

• Grade 1– mild (milk only - clots and flakes)

• Grade 2– moderate (milk and udder)

• Grade 3– severe (milk, udder and cow-systemic)

Protocol for SCC ProblemProtocol for SCC Problem

1. Determine the Organism1. Determine the Organism• Bulk Tank SCCBulk Tank SCC• Individual Cow CulturesIndividual Cow Cultures

2. When are cows getting infected?2. When are cows getting infected?• Hfrs vs. Cows?Hfrs vs. Cows?• Dry Period?Dry Period?• During lactationDuring lactation

3. Culturing Plan3. Culturing Plan• Bulk Tank CulturesBulk Tank Cultures• New infections (linear > 4)New infections (linear > 4)• New clinical infectionsNew clinical infections

4 Treatment Protocol 4 Treatment Protocol

5. Monitoring Plan5. Monitoring Plan

Udder Health MonitorUdder Health MonitorGoalsGoals

1. Bulk Tank Cultures1. Bulk Tank Cultures• Strep. Ag. = 0Strep. Ag. = 0• Mycoplasma = 0Mycoplasma = 0• Others in Low CategoryOthers in Low Category

2. Bulk Tank Somatic Cell Count2. Bulk Tank Somatic Cell Count

• goal < 200,000goal < 200,000

Parameter Group Goal

LS < 5.0 1st Lactation > 90%

LS < 5.0 2nd Lactation > 85%

LS < 5.0 3rd + Lactation > 80%

LS < 5.0 Whole Herd > 85%

LS> 7.0 1st Lactation < 2%

LS > 7.0 2nd Lactation < 4%

LS > 7.0 3rd Lactation < 5%

LS > 7.0 Whole Herd < 4%

3. DHI Linear Score Goals3. DHI Linear Score Goals

Wallace, 2000

Udder Health MonitorUdder Health MonitorGoalsGoals

4. New infection rate4. New infection rate

• goal < 7%/monthgoal < 7%/month

5. New infection rate on fresh cows5. New infection rate on fresh cows

• goal < 20%/monthgoal < 20%/month

6. Clinical mastitis cases6. Clinical mastitis cases

• < 2% per month< 2% per month

7. Mastitis Culling Rate7. Mastitis Culling Rate

• < 10% per year < 10% per year (Wallace, 2000)

Udder Health MonitorUdder Health MonitorGoalsGoals

Management Practices Associated with “Low” (<150,000) Bulk Tank SCC

• cleaner free stalls• use more bedding• cleaner drinking cups• remove udder hair• dry cows checked for mastitis daily• cleaner calving pens• fresh cows kept out of bulk tank longer.

Management Practices Associated with “Low” (<150,000) Bulk Tank SCC

• more consistent and longer use of teat dipping

• more consistent and longer use of dry cow therapy

• clinical cases treated for longer duration

• more apt to provide nutrient supplements.

Bottom LineBottom Line

•Use records to determine: who, what when where and why

•Set up protocols based on organisms

•Cleanliness is next to godliness

•Low SCC (<200,000) is very achievable and profitable

Credits

• Jim Salfer

• Text• D. Weinand, R.J. Erskine, G.

Neubauer, Minnesota DHIA