Preventing New Udder Infections This Winter starts with a good drying off procedure.

A good dry off procedure is essential to prevent the introduction of new infection into the cow’s udder – hygiene is crucial here.

Cow’s tails should be clipped in advance of drying off.

Yields should be reduced by decreasing the plane of nutrition in the week prior to dry off and cows should be dried off abruptly (do not skip milkings).

Pick a dry day for the job, as it is difficult to maintain high standards of hygiene when cows are wet. Dry the cows off in batches (ideally no more than 20 at the time depending on available help), if too many cows are dried off at once standards can slip.

On the day of dry off, make sure all your equipment is ready to go – marking spray, gloves, surgical spirits and cotton wool or disinfectant teat wipes, antibiotic tubes and sealer, disposable paper towel.

• Separate the cows to be dried off and bring them back into a clean parlour after milking.
• Ensure that your hands and arms are clean and wear a clean gown.
• Wear clean disposable gloves and change as necessary.
• Sterilise the end of the teats with surgical spirits and cotton wool or with disinfectant teat wipes. Repeat until the wipe/cotton wool comes away clean.
• To prevent already sterilised teats from becoming dirty again, avoid brushing off them with your arms. The best way to do this is to sterilise the teats furthest away from you first (front teats) and then sterilise the teats nearest to you last (back teats). When administering your tubes do it in the opposite direction, so back teats first and then front teats.
• When handling the tubes avoid touching the nozzle. Antibiotics should be massaged up into the udder. When administering the sealer, pinch the base of the teat and leave the sealer in the teat canal, do not massage it up.
• Use teat dip or spray when finished.
• Mark the cows that have been dried off and record her number, product used and the date. Record on ICBF later. Information recorded on FarmOps will automatically go to ICBF. This is crucial for accurate milk recording information.
• Allow cows to stand in a clean yard after drying off to allow the teat sphincter to close.

The dry cow’s environment is critical to the success of the dry period. Ideally dry cows should be housed away from the milking parlour. The sound of the milking machine can induce let down in some cows.

Space is important – enough cubicles (at least one cubicle per cow) and enough feed space to prevent the build of dung in areas.

Pay close attention to the hygiene of the cubicles in the dry period. The greatest risk period for acquiring new infections in the dry period are in the two weeks following dry off and the two weeks before calving, so extra care should be taken at these times. Cow’s udders should be checked daily for any heat or swelling particularly during these risk periods.

The success of the dry period on your farm can be assessed by having an early milk recording next spring – within 60 days after the start of calving. Continuing with regular milk recording throughout the year provides information that is crucial to successfully managing SCC.