ARCHIVE FILE
This article was published in 1982
See the original document
Developments in Mastitis Control
R.J.T. Hoare, Veterinary Research St., GLENFIELD NSW
There was a continued gradual improvement in the average bulk milk cell count during the past 12 months. All but two factories are now below 500,000 cells per ml. The Departmental target of below 300,000 cells per ml. has now been achieved by 6 of the State's 43 factories. There is considerable activity in many areas to reduce mastitis still further.
There has been much interest this year in the Bulk Milk Cell Count Competition, the winners of which will be announced at the Factory Manager's Conference in May. The State winner this year will have a cell count below 100,000 cells per ml. - a remarkable achievement.
There has been a special project undertaken during the past 12 months to reduce mastitis in the Hunter area. Cell counts have improved dramatically at some factories in the DVO Newcastle's area e.g. Wyong down by 200,000 and Dungog down by 100,000 in the past 12 months.
Ranking of Factories on Bulk Milk Cell Count for 6 months to March 1982 -
| 1 | Moruya | 254,000 |
| 2 | Jamberoo | 260,000 |
| 3 | Wollongong | 281,000 |
| 4 | Manning River | 287,000 |
| 5 | Bowral | 293,000 |
| 6 | Bodalla | 298,000 |
| 7 | Griffith | 309,000 |
| 8 | Albion Park | 311,000 |
| 9 | Mudgee | 323,000 |
| 10 | Menangle | 337,000 |
| 11 | Armidale | 340,000 |
| 12 | Moss Vale | 347,000 |
| 13 | Gerringong | 348,000 |
| 14 | Berry | 352,000 |
| 15 | Wyong | 353,000 |
| 16 | Orange | 357,000 |
| 17 | Wauchope | 363,000 |
| 18 | Penrith | 368,000 |
| 19 | Singleton | 376,000 |
| 20 | Kempsey | 378,000 |
| 21 | Bega | 378,000 |
| 22 | Peters, Taree | 386,000 |
| 23 | Nowra | 399,000 |
| 24 | Gloucester | 404,000 |
| 25 | Lismore | 408,000 |
| 26 | Dubbo | 411,000 |
| 27 | Goulburn | 419,000 |
| 28 | Kraft, D' quin | 419,000 |
| 29 | Tamworth | 423,000 |
| 30 | Wagga | 426,000 |
| 31 | Smithtown | 426,000 |
| 32 | Grafton-Ulmarra | 426,000 |
| 33 | Raleigh | 430,000 |
| 34 | United Dairies | 443,000 |
| 35 | Muswellbrook | 449,000 |
| 36 | Inverell | 449,000 |
| 37 | Dungog | 458,000 |
| 38 | Finley | 468,000 |
| 39 | Haberfields | 471,000 |
| 40 | Perfection | 472,000 |
| 41 | Comboyne | 473,000 |
| 42 | Hexham | 547,000 |
| 43 | Bathurst | 561,000 |
Average cell count March 1982 - 385,000
| Averages for 6 months to March | 1976 | 584,000 |
| 1977 | 522,000 | |
| 1978 | 567,000 | |
| 1979 | 492,000 | |
| 1980 | 447,000 | |
| 1981 | 486,000 | |
| 1982 | 405,000 |
To overcome staff and funding shortages in the Mastitis Laboratory, the Dairy Industry Marketing Authority will be providing funds for a laboratory attendant and operating expenses for the bulk milk cell counting programme. DIMA is also about to use the cell count in conjunction with the sediment test to grade milk for acceptance purposes. Suppliers whose latest bulk milk cell count is below 500,000 cells per ml. will receive a warning not a rejection if their sediment test shows the yellow colour indicative of mastitis or other udder abnormality. This is to allow farmers with a history of moderate mastitis control to get their milk quality in order before rejections occur. Farmers with high levels of mastitis will have a real incentive to reduce below 500,000.
Cow cell counting
The number of cow samples received for cell counting has doubled every year. This is proving to be too much of a drain on the Mastitis Laboratory's allocation of staff and finances. A proposal has been accepted that a charge would be made for these tests except for the first diagnostic test in each herd. A fee of 80 cents per test is proposed for casual testing and 50 cents a test for herds regularly testing their herds through the Dairy Herd Improvement Programme (DHIP). In the DHIP, results would be sent back only through the computer and would not be available to Departmental field staff. Once we have identified cows with high cell counts farmers will have to decide on courses of action regarding identification of affected quarters, treatment, selection of antibiotics or culling. We will be advising farmers to contact their veterinary practitioners for advice on what action to take with cows with high cell counts.
Investigation of problem herds
A small number of herds, currently carrying out the recommended routines but still with a mastitis problem, have been investigated. In many instances the first contact by the farmer has been with the local Livestock Officer. Where non-responsive problems exist a joint investigation with a VO or VI should be made. Occasionally a farmer may take samples to a Livestock Officer who would submit them to a Regional Veterinary Laboratory. When Livestock Officers submit samples, the laboratory may return results to the LO and the local VI. We assume that local VI will be providing assistance to the LO and farmer in the interpretation of the results. Livestock Officers are not trained in the interpretation of bacteriology results and are not qualified to give advice on treatment.