Troubleshooting a Mastitis Problem Herd
Reviewed January 2009
PDF version
J.W. Schroeder, Extension Dairy Specialist
Do you have a herd mastitis problem? If your bulk tank SCC is 750,000 or greater, you are in danger of losing your milk market. Since mastitis can be caused by man, machine, and the cows' environment, all items must be checked to determine its cause.
Using a bulk tank report
One of the most accurate methods of diagnosing problems is with a bulk tank analysis, but before any drastic measures are taken, a second bulk tank sample should be taken -- several days apart. A sample report is included (Figure 1.) for reference only, and accompanying explanations (Table 1 and Table 2.) are provided for your use in determining the problem and how to solve it.
Table 1. This table will aid In the interpretation of your bulk tank analysis. Good management procedures are probably being practiced when results are within the normal levels. Hygiene procedures should be evaluated when results exceed these levels. |
Contagious Bacteria |
Normal Levels |
Moderate Levels |
High Levels |
Control |
Staphylococcus
(coagulase +) |
O |
100-400 > |
500 |
Teat dipping and dry cow therapy |
Streptococcus agalactiae |
O |
100-5000 > |
6000 |
Teat dipping and dry cow therapy |
Streptococcus dysgalactiae |
< 500 |
500-1000 > |
1000 |
Teat dipping and dry cow therapy |
Corynebactenum < bovis |
500 |
500-1000 > |
1000 |
Teat dipping and dry cow therapy |
Mycoplasma |
Negative |
Positive |
Positive |
Teat dipping and culling |
Environmental Bacteria |
Normal Levels |
Moderate Levels |
High Levels |
Control |
Streptococcus
uberis |
< 500 |
500-1000 > |
1000 |
Milk clean dry udders, pre-dip* |
Coliforms |
< 500 |
500-1000 > |
1000 |
Milk clean dry udders pre-dip* |
Misc. (Bacillus, Pseudomonas, etc.) |
< 300 |
400-1000 > |
1000 |
Milk clean dry udders pre-dip* |
Staphylococcus (coagulase - ) |
500 |
600-1000 > |
1000 |
Milk clean dry udders pre-dip* |
Milk Quality Tests |
Normal |
Medium |
High |
Indicator of: |
Lab. Pasteurized Count |
< 1000 |
1500 > |
1500 |
Dirty milking equipment - check wash-up procedures |
Somatic Cell Count (X 1000) |
200 |
300-400 > |
500 |
Udder health in the herd. |
Standard Plate Count |
< 10,000 |
20-40,000 |
750,000 |
# of visible bacteria in milk sample |
| P.I. Count |
< 10,000 |
20-40,000 |
750,000 |
Milk-keeping properties and sanitation on dairy. |
*Remember pre-dipping has been proven only on clean, dry udders.
Table 2. Bulk tank bacterial types, with common sources and modes of spread and control therapy. |
Contagious Bacteria |
Source |
Means of Spread |
Control |
| Staphylococcus
(coagulase +) aureus |
Infected udders, teat lesions, udder skin, etc. |
Cow to cow by contaminated udder wash rags, teat cups, hands, etc. |
Teat dipping and dry cow therapy. |
Streptococcus agalactiae (causes high somatic cell counts) |
Infected udders |
Cow to cow by contaminated udder wash rags, teat cups, hands, etc. |
Teat dipping and dry cow therapy. |
Streptococcus dysgalatiae |
Infected udders, feces, skin |
Cow to cow by contaminated udder wash rags, teat cups, hands, etc. |
Teat dipping and dry cow therapy cow therapy; milk clean, dry udders. |
Corynebacterium bovis |
Teat canal |
Inhabits the teat canal. Appears in tank milk when cows are not prestripped. |
Teat dipping and dry cow therapy. |
Mycoplasma |
Infected udders, contaminated antibiotic mixes in bottles |
Cow to cow by contaminated udder wash rags, teat cups, hands, etc. |
Teat dipping use commercial tubes, not Bottle mixes. Once contracted, it is not curable. |
Environmental Bacteria |
Source |
Means of Spread |
Control |
Streptococcus uberis |
Numerous locations on infected udders and on the cow; hair, lips, vagina, feces,etc., as well as bedding, muddy lots, etc. |
Environment to cow by: wet, dirty lots and bedding;milking wet teats; poor udderpreparation |
Milk clean, dry udders,pre-dippingmay help. |
Coliforms |
Manure, bedding, green sawdust |
Environment to cow by: wet, dirty lots and bedding; milking wet teats; poor udder preparation |
Milk clean,dry udders, pre-dipping may help. |
Bacillus, Pseudomonas, etc. |
Hoses, dirty water, milk, manure, bedding, etc. |
Environment to cow by: wet, dirty lots and bedding; miking wet teats; poor udder preparation |
Milk clean, dry udders, pre-dipping may help, replace wash hoses. |
Staphylococcus spp.:
(coagulase -) epidermidis,
Hyicus micrococcus, etc. |
Normal inhabitant of udder skin |
Poor udder preparation, milking wet udders and teats |
Milk clean, dry udders. |
Figure 1. Record your bulk tank milk sample analysis and file for future reference. |
Contagious Bacteria: |
Record of Lab Results |
Ideal Range |
Staphyoccus |
|
|
|
|
(Coagulase Positive) |
______ |
0 |
Streptococcus |
|
|
|
|
agalactiae |
______ |
0 |
|
dysgalactiae |
______ |
0 - 500 |
Corynebacterium |
|
______ |
0 - 500 |
Mycoplasma (7 day test) |
|
______ |
Negative |
Environmental Bacteria: |
Record of Lab Results |
Ideal Range |
Streptococcus uberis |
|
__________ |
0 - 500 |
Coliforms |
|
__________ |
0 - 500 |
Bacillus |
|
__________ |
0 - 500 |
Other: |
|
|
|
|
Staphyloccus
(Coagulase Negative) |
__________ |
0 - 500 |
Milk Quality Tests : |
Record of Lab Results |
Ideal Range |
Lab Pasteurized Count |
_________________ |
0 - 1,000 |
Somatic Cell Count |
_________________ |
0 - 200,000 |
Standard Plate Count |
_________________ |
0 - 10,000 |
P. I. Count |
_________________ |
0 - 10,000 |
Adapted by Bray and Shearer, University of Florida
|
