Being a nutritious animal product, milk quality and quantity is determined by the methods of milking, feeding and animal health.
Mastitis is the infection of milk producing gland in the udder. Bacteria invades the teat via the teat end canals and cause infection. Mastitis is a fight between bacteria invading udder and cow fighting infection.
Mastitis checkup
As early detection and treatment of mastitis reduces damage on glands and bacteria spread from cow to cow, milker should check for mastitis and feel all quarters for changes in udder before milking.
For checking for mastitis, a strip cup should be used in each quarter before milking. This through striping first milk into strip cup to check for blood clots in milk. In case of mastitis, milker should keep milk of mastitis separate from good milk.
Treating mastitis
First step of treating mastitis is by complete milking of infected cow of which its milk is later on discarded properly. By milking the cow as often as possible, bacteria and dead cells are removed from udder which take away the infection.
Similarly, appropriate drug treatment is directed intramammary infusion of antibiotics tube is inserted into teats and drug to stop inflammation and reduce pain. Read manufacturers reflex for all drugs used in dairy cattle. Milk can not be used for human consumption for several days after treatment.
Finally dont mix infected milk with milk from healthy cows. Record date, cow‘s name or number and which treat is affected. This is for comparison and identification of disease again once strikes.
