A34-Uncast«r Farming, Saturday, March 1,1986
BY ROBIN PHILLIPS
Staff Correspondent
LEESPORT - “A lot of dairy
farmers could increase their
production if they would un
derstand the mammary system
and treat it accordingly,” stated
Clyde Myers, Berks County Agent,
as he began the program at the
Southeast Pennsylvania Ex
tension, “Mastitis and Milking
Equipment Update” meeting last
week.
The lineup of experts at the
seminar attempted to enhance
such an understanding by indepth
discussions on mastitis. Going
beyond merely stressing the need
to teat dip and dry treat, the topics
of the meeting dealt with exotic
forms of mastitis, milking
equipment problems and research,
milk recording devices, teat dips
and dry cow treatments, somatic
cell counts, and new developments
in milking equipment.
On hand to provide a very in
formative presentation and field
many questions throughout the day
were Dr. Larry Hutchinson, PSU
Extension veterinarian, and Steve
Spencer, PSU Extension dairy
■aßßaaßHaHaaßßanwaaßHa
Dr. George F. W. Haenlein and Susan Kyle, from West Chester,
a sophomore at the Unviersity of Delaware.
★★★★ANNOUNCING:*hh^
1986 DELMAR
MILKER SCHOOL
March 17, 1986 (Monday)
Pencader Grange Hall, Glasgow, Delaware
(South of intersection of Del. 896 & U.S. 40)
9:00 a.m. till 3:30 p.m.
Dr. JL Woo# Ptnltey, Ph.D., University of Vermont:
end
Dr. Roberts. Corbett D.V.M., El Paso, Texas
will diSCMS:
0:80* 11:00*4*. MmOOk Pn»»*iiO*n ft Controi
IWpM» Dr. Corbett
IliOO* KROON—n Ifrgawe In a Control Program Dr. Pankey
um* %m¥M. %■#
iM* tm#M Dr. Pankey
!•#;. IdWPJL mrnmtlmm- Dr.C*l*ll
*800" ;' ■ PJI, Qu—Oona 1 Arttwrart
* LUNCH WILL BE SERVED FROM 12:00 til 1:00 BY THE
LADIES OF THE PENCADER GRANGE *
REGISTRATION STARTS AT 9:00 A.M.
COST IS $5.00 (Includes Lunch)
INFORMATION:
Dr. George F.W. Haenlein
Extension Dairyman
University of Delaware
048 Townsend Hall
Newark, Delaware 19717-1303
Rhone: 302-451-2523 or 302-451-1333
Increasing production by controlling mastitis
specialist.
The understanding of somatic
cell counts and the use of that
knowledge was stressed
throughout the day. The somatic
cell count (SCC), a measurement
of the leukocytes fighting infection
in the cow’s udder and present in a
milk sample, is provided to par
ticipating dairymen on their
monthly DHIA reports. The coded
results on each cow can give ad
vance notice to a dairyman of
subclinical mastitis or an on
coming infection.
At a “code 3” or a measurement
of 141,000 SCC, subclinical mastitis
is present in the udder, and
production loss begins. By a code
of “5” or SCC of 500,000, clinical
infection is obvious and the loss in
production is critical.
It is estimated that $75.00 to
$160.00 per cow/per year is lost to
high SCC or mastitis, and as much
as one-half of all dairy cows may
be infected in two quarters. It has
also been shown that excessive
somatic cell levels in milk indicate
up to a 25% loss of production
potential for the the herd.
Myers recommended looking at
the herd’s trends over a year’s
time. By screening the SCC each
month and possibly charting a
cross section of the herd, trends in
codes may be seen to lead to a
problem within the herd. Ac
cording to these trends, stated
Myers, a dairyman can determine
if housing problems, milking
system performance, or spreading
mastitis is in his herd and costing
him daily and substantial losses.
High somatic cell counts in first
calf heifers when they freshen
could be a sign of a sucking
problem in group pens, or a
housing problem with younger
stock. Older cows developing high
counts could be spreading mastitis
within the herd. If a certain time of
the year seems to be leading to
higher SCC in the herd, poor
housing or muddy conditions could
be the source of the problem.
A thorough screening of the SCC
and the use of the CMT (California
Mastitis Test) to determine which
quarters are infected can help the
dairyman control the problem in
FARMERS AgCREDIT
9 EAST MAIN STREET, LITITZ, PA
717-626-4721 WSSBM
Enjoy
■ Wm iflr
Youngs
advantage.
For over 80 years, we’ve forages and grains
made high-quality products, We still do
sold them at a fair price, and Enjoy the Young's advantage
helped livestock producers quality products making better
make the best use of their use of your feeds
Stop by our booth during your visit to the
Lancaster County Dairy Days March 4th & 11th
After the seminar, Steve Spencer was on hand to discuss
particular problems with dairymen.
his herd by leading him to where
the source of the problem may be,
Myers continued. Fewer herd
replacements are necessary when
mastitis is controlled.
Dr. Larry Hutchinson discussed
“The Environment and Mastitis.”
“A cow can repair (the udder)
somewhat after the infection
period,” Hutchinson began, “but
she can never grow new milk
(Turn to PageA3s)
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Pig Roast, Ox Roast, and More
LANCASTER CO.
717-464-3376
i^yonnii’s
Spring Pa 16673^^^
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