To determine whether tail docking would influence cow cleanliness and udder health in a free-stall system, we monitored milking cows after half the animals in a herd were docked. A sample of 223 docked and 190 undocked cows (reducing to 169 and 105 over the study as cows were dried off) were monitored for 8 wk. Cow cleanliness was scored in two areas: along the spine, and the rump adjacent to t...

Against the background of prevailing udder health problems on dairy farms, this paper discusses a new approach to mastitis control. Current udder health control programmes, such as the 'five-point plan', are highlighted and their drawbacks indicated. The concept and principles of hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) are introduced. The eight core elements of this concept are dealt wi...

BACKGROUND Studies outside the Nordic countries have indicated that subclinical mastitis (measured by milk somatic cell count or the California Mastitis Test), intramammary infections (IMI), or blind quarters in beef cows may have negative effects on beef calf growth. Knowledge on prevalence of such udder health problems in Swedish beef cows is scarce. Therefore, the main aim of this study was ...

Susceptibility to mastitis is in part determined by genetics. Opportunities exist for genetic improvement of resistance to mastitis but currently available means for genetic selection are limited and focus mainly on EBV for SCC and, in countries with health recording, on EBV for clinical mastitis. Further opportunities exist to incorporate available EBV for udder conformation and milking speed ...

The periodic trimming of the long hairs growing at the distal end of the tail -switch trimming- is humane alternative of tail docking. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of switch trimming on somatic cell count (SCC), California mastitis test (CMT) and udder cleanliness of lactating cows in a free-stall dairy farm. In the present study, 219 healthy, pregnant Holstein cows ...

To determine the relationship between udder traits and peak milk yield, udder parameters of 203 Dehong crossbred dairy buffaloes were measured. The average peak milk yield (kg/day) of buffaloes was 9.60 ± 2.73, with average udder dimensions of 16.51 ± 10.05, 8.07 ± 3.26, 8.68 ± 3.92, 50.74 ± 8.82, 11.38 ± 3.08, 7.18 ± 2.18 and 7.73 ± 2.15 cm for udder depth, rear udder width, rear udder height,...

BACKGROUND:Mastitis is the most economically importantdisease in dairy industry worldwide. Bulk tank milk (BTM)analysis has been suggested for monitoring the udder healthstatus at herd level. OBJECTIVES: A cross-sectional study wasconducted to evaluate udder health status in 15 Holstein dairyfarms located in Qom province. METHODS: Bulk tank somaticcell count (BTMSCC) was analyzed using opto-flu...

Automatic in-line measurement of milk composition and milk yield could be a useful tool in management of the dairy herd. Data on milk components and milk yield provide information on milk quality alterations and cow health status but are also useful in planning feeding and breeding. In automatic milking systems, udder quarters are milked individually, enabling analysis and recording at the udde...

Introduction Maintaining consumers trust is essential to ensure the future of the dairy industry. Production of high quality milk from healthy, well cared for animals is the goal of most dairy farmers. However, as fewer and fewer consumers are familiar with dairy farming, they have become more skeptical about the ability of farmers to properly care for farm animals. Public attention about the w...

Teat and udder affections are common in domestic animals. Early diagnosis and treatment of diseases of teat and udder is very important for maintenance of their health. Anatomy The udder of the cow and buffalo have four quarters each of which is a separate unit. Each quarter is an independent compartment. Affection of one quarter does not necessitate the involvement of the other quarters. In bu...