1. Hygienic teat management - combined with sound housing management
2. Prompt treatment of clinical mastitis
3. Dry cow therapy
4. Culling chronically affected cows
5. Correct maintenance of the milking machine

In addition, it is a requirement of the Dairy Products (Hygiene) Regulations 1995 that the foremilk is examined and discarded. Foremilking is considered the best means of detecting the early signs of mastitis and allows for the stimulus for milk let down.

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Environmental mastitis is more likely to occur when cows are housed when there is greater exposure to faecal contamination. Pre-milking dipping with an approved disinfectant may be beneficial.

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Poor environmental conditions predispose to mastitis and there is evidence that loose housing in straw yards results in a higher incidence of mastitis than housing in cubicle yards. However, there are good and bad examples of both types of housing: much depends on stockmanship and management. Whatever system is used, cleanliness is a most important factor and plays a significant part in controlling mastitis.

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Recommendations

• All dairy producers should adhere to the NIRD/CVL Five Point Plan which, together with good stockmanship, will help control mastitis infection.
• Mastitis control should be part of herd health monitoring with targets set for incidence
• Monitoring and recording of antibiotic tube usage should be an integral part of herd monitoring and should include tubes used per herd and per individual cow.
• Mastitis monitoring and control should be a part of routine veterinary visits. Milk samples should be taken in order to identify the causal agent and antibiotic sensitivity testing carried out to allow better targeting with antibiotics or other efficacious treatments.