Hi everyone,
We had a very interesting subject at our last face to face discussion
group.(All Dairyfarmers Discussion Group) Andrew McDonald from Pfizer
(Orbinin Drycow & Enduro)led a very interesting and indepth talk on
Drying cows off and Mastitis treatments. We had Kit Button, the Maffra
NRE vet present also to ensure we were correctly informed. First we
started by watching a video on drying cows off, from the NRE, it was
apparently a couple of years old, so we thought it might be relevant, in
seeing how if any practices were changed, there wasn't that much 'out of
date' in it. We had and discussed the 'Countdown downunder' Mastitis
book,$20 at most retailors, our Murray Goulburn Field officer Andrea
was there and said the book was available through them for $15. To late
for me!
One of the possible changes in the Orbinin routine will be the
absence of the wipes. No they are not getting tight, (our first
response!), they are being responsible to the fact that these containers
which need to be sterile for wiping clean the teat ends before the
syringe is inserted, could after the farmers removed a couple of wipes,
be infected by the farmers hands or something, thus the next 100 or so
wipes, may carry the bacteria they are intended to clean off. Now the
going method is a alcohol swab of 7 parts metho to 3parts 'Clean' water,
wiping the teat clean with a cotton ball, so no bacteria can be poked up
into the tit with the syringe tip. if this isn't done carefully, you may
be wasting your time, (and money) using any treatment. So the argument
raged, Do we blanket treat?, or Selectively treat? The 'no treatment'
was
knocked on the head quickly, as we didn't want to immediately sell
suspect cows or have them come in next season and spread mastitis
everywhere. Cost analysis were shown on the various outcome and
possibilities, these proved enlightening, but still the major question,
Are we overusing Anti-biotics, in regimes? Why give a perfectly healthy
cow who has had a low bmcc all year according to herd test, exposure to
a product that she may need at some other time? (Sorry I am still bias
here) It was pointed out the in the first couple of days after drying
off is the critical time for bug accumulation in a cows udder, so do you
want to risk it?
I have been told that as the Countdown downunder program is launched,
we will have the chance to attend information info in the subject. You
might think that because you don't have a problem, you don't need to
support this mastitis program, no we don't have a problem, but by-gee we
found we got some some great information out of this discussion group
day, how the various preparations work, other farmers practices, and
problems to avoid, various myths were discussed, where to go to for
help, Yes our Factory will do a antibiotic check on a single cow if she
calves before her due date and has dry-cow in her, Better than waiting
another 3 weeks or what ever the extra, withholding date is on the
packet. And 100% better than accidentally putting antibiotics into the
vat! But most of all sharing info we have found works, and is recognized
as being good practices. People told us that using a Co. Rep. for a
speaker was not a good idea, but Andrew was very well prepared and
admitted when he was outside his knowledge boundaries.
Then we got to look around Hennings' farm, it's always good to
see what other farmers are achieving, beautiful spot up near Tarra-
Valley, excellent day enjoyed by all.
Clare and Trevor Porter
Dairyfarmers
Yarram
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