Mastitis Management and Prevention

Jeffrey Bewley, PhD, PAS

What Does the Inside of an Udder Look Like?
General Mammary Structure
Individual quarters
Streak canal & keratin lining
 Streak Canal

Purdue University Milking for Quality

 What is Mastitis?
• Inflammation of the
mammary gland caused by:

•Microorganisms (primarily
bacteria)
•Trauma or injury to the
udder
•Chemical irritation

• Most costly disease in the

dairy industry
Mastitis
 Infection Process
Organisms invade the udder through
teat canal

Migrate up the teat canal and colonize

the secretory cells

Colonized organisms produce toxic

substances harmful to the milk
producing cells

The cow’s immune system send white

blood cells (Somatic cells) to fight the
organisms
Where do these organisms come
from ?
 What are Somatic Cells?
• Most are white blood cells that
prevent and overcome infections
Typical cells using
• Measures the level of udder standard staining
stress/damage/irritation
• Under 200,000 /ml uninfected
• Over 200,000 /ml infected

• Easy way to assess the mastitis

White blood cells
level in a herd and Strep from mastitis

• Excellent mastitis management

tool
 CMT
• Cowside
• Cheap
• Easy
• Simple
• Detects relative cell
content
• Does NOT give SCC
Other Tests
 Clinical versus Subclinical
Clinical Mastitis

• Visible signs of disease

• Flakes or clots in milk
• Swelling of quarter
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Depression
• Death
Crist et al., 1997, Mastitis and its Control, University of Kentucky ASC-140
 Clinical versus Subclinical
Subclinical Mastitis

• No visible signs of disease

• Elevated Somatic Cell Count
(SCC)
• Greatest financial loss
• Strep. Agalactiae
• Staph. aureus

Crist et al., 1997, Mastitis and its Control, University of Kentucky ASC-140
 Mastitis in a Herd

1 clinical Clinical
case
=15-40
subclinical
cases
Subclinical
 Costs of Mastitis
•Milk production losses •Bonuses
•Drugs •Labor
•Discarded milk •Culling
•Veterinary services •Other diseases
 Production Losses by SCC Score

Lactation Average Lactation Average Lactation 1 Lactation 2 or

SCC Score SCC (cells/ml) greater

0 12,500 -- --
1 25,000 -- --
2 50,000 -- --
3 100,000 200 400
4 200,000 400 800
5 400,000 600 1200
6 800,000 800 1600
7 1,600,000 1000 2000

*Comparison are with lactation yields at SCC score of 2.

Source: Current Concepts of Bovine Mastitis, NMC, 1987
http://www2.ca.uky.edu/afsdairy/MilkQualityCalculator
 Mastitis Cost Breakdown
Second and later
Cost type First parity
parities
Lost milk $ 131.41 $ 133.46
Vet and drug $ 76.62 $ 76.62
Discarded milk $ 64.38 $ 81.00
Labor $ 12.22 $ 12.22
Death $ 11.37 $ 12.19
Culling $ 9.49 $ 17.92
Days open $ 1.21 $ 3.47
Total $ 306.95 $340.14
Liang and Bewley, 2017
 Contagious versus Environmental
• Contagious

• Spreads between cows or quarters

• Transmitted in the parlor during milking
• Usually chronic, subclinical mastitis
• Primary Causative Agents
•Strep. agalactiae
•Staph. aureus
•Mysoplasma bovis
•Strep. Dysagalactiae
 Contagious versus Environmental
• Environmental

• Obtained through the environment

• Primary Causative Agents
•E. coli
•Klebsiella pneumoniae
•Strep. Uberis
•Strep. Dysgalactiae
Environmental Mastitis
Indicators of an Environmental
Mastitis Problem
• Incidence increases when cows are dirtier
• Often short duration infections, may
not show up on DHIA
• Can have severe symptoms
• Infections more likely to occur
around drying off and calving
Indicators of an Environmental
Mastitis Problem
• More infections during hot/humid
weather
• Often only a few cows infected at one
time
• Poor teat end condition gives bacteria
easier access to teat end
 Hygiene Scoring

Goal <10% of cows score 3 or 4

 Environmental Management

• Cows must be
• Clean
• Dry
• Comfortable
• Well nourished
• Minimizes bacterial
load
Steps for Controlling Environmental
Mastitis
1. Limit water use in parlor
2. Avoid overmilking to keep teat ends healthy
3. Remove hair from udder
4. Use E-coli vaccines (i.e. J5, J-VAC, ENDOVAC-
Bovi)
5. Consider using sand
Flaming udders promotes udder cleanliness and health
Swimming is NOT Good for Their
Health
Avoid Muddy Lots
Is This Cow Exposed to Bacteria?
Scrape Alleys Frequently
Don’t Forget Pastures
Rotate Shaded Areas
Geotextile fabric
reduces mud!
Water in the
Parlor is Bad
Contagious Mastitis
YouTube: Milking Procedures Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBgon39usbQ
Focus on Teat Ends
Monitor Milk Filters
 Milk Problem Cows Last
• Based on high SCC or
clinical mastitis
• Dumping high SCC
cows may lower bulk
tank SCC
• Reduces chances of
antibiotics residues
• Reduces spread of
mastitis between cows
 Wearing Gloves
Reduces Bacteria
Spread
 Teat Dips
• Pre- and post-milking are essential

• Prevent new intramammary infections

• Reduce colonization of mastitis-causing bacteria

on teats

• Minimize bacteria penetration into teat canals

• Reduce mastitis incidence by 50 to 95%

Nickerson, Choosing the Best Teat Dip for Mastitis Control and Milk Quality
 Spraying Versus Dipping
Sprayed Teat

Dipped Teat

• Spraying may
also use 2X as
much dip
 Pre and Post

• Streptococcus uberis
Pre-dipping • Escherichia coli
(Environmental) • Klebsiella pneumoniae

• Staphylococcus aureus
Post-dipping • Streptococcus agalactiae
(Contagious) • Mycoplasma bovis
• Corynebacterium bovis

Nickerson, Choosing the Best Teat Dip for Mastitis Control and Milk Quality
 Pre-Dipping Considerations
• More effective with less manure and dirt on teats

• Application method is important (> ¾ of teat)

• Must allow recommended contact time (15 to 30

seconds)
• Dry teats thoroughly to avoid residues

• Keeping cows clean for 1-2 hours after milking

maximizes pre-dip effectiveness

Nickerson, Choosing the Best Teat Dip for Mastitis Control and Milk Quality
 Post-Dipping Considerations

• Post-dip ASAP after milkers are removed

• Application method is important (> ¾ of teat)
• Most products will reduce new infection rates
• Use non-return cups and keep them clean
• Follow label

Nickerson, Choosing the Best Teat Dip for Mastitis Control and Milk Quality
 Which Teat Dip is Best?
• Many teat dips are effective
• Make sure it meets FDA regulations
• Proven to be effective
• Does not harm teat skin or promote new
infections
• National Mastitis Council publishes a guideline
every 2 years summarizing effectiveness of teat
dips

Nickerson, Choosing the Best Teat Dip for Mastitis Control and Milk Quality
 Teat Dip Problems
• May cause irritation, chapping, lesions, drying, or caustic
reactions
• Caused by:
– Chemical composition of germicide
– pH (too low or too high)
– Improper storage
– Manufacturing errors
– Improper dilution
– Incompatible water
• Contamination may actually cause mastitis

Nickerson, Choosing the Best Teat Dip for Mastitis Control and Milk Quality
 Selection of Teat Dip

• Dips are most often selected on price alone

• Other factors influencing choice:
– High pressure sales tactics
– Magazine testimonials
– Industry-sponsored meetings
• Cost should examined, but shouldn't be the sole
determining factor
• The teat dip you use should match the facilities,
environmental factors and mastitis pathogens present
on the dairy
 Staphylococcus aureus Vaccines
• Brand Names: Somato-Staph and Lysigin

• Some chance of effectiveness with young heifers (6 months)

• 6 month boosters

• Cure rate poor in chronically infected cows

• Limited ability to prevent new infections

• Most veterinarians in this state will not recommend these

vaccines
– Vaccine alone will not solve the problem
 Coliform Vaccines
• Brand Names: J-5 Bacterin and Mastiguard (identical), JVAC,
Endovac-Bovi

• Standard practice in many dairy farms

• Efficacy demonstrated in research and commercial settings

• Do not affect the rate of infections

• Reduce bacterial counts

• Fewer, shorter, and less severe clinical symptoms

• Provide the cow with better defense against bacteria

 Coliform Vaccines

• Generally economical
–Improved production
–Less culling
–Fewer deaths
• 5 to 1 benefit to cost ratio
 Nutrition and Immunity
• Optimize dry matter intake and water consumption
• Ensure cows receive adequate minerals and vitamins
• Vitamin E
• Selenium
• Copper
• Vitamin E
• These tools can enhance immune response
• But, they do not replace good management (clean
cows and good milking procedures)
 Dry Cows
• Treat every quarter of every cow at dry-off
• Highest chance of treating infected quarters
• Consider teat sealant
• Maintain clean environment
• Maintain adequate nutrition
• Ensure adequate mineral/vitamin nutrition
• Minimize transition stress
Orbeseal
If You Don’t Culture……

You Don’t Know

 Who Needs to Be Cultured?
• New clinical cases
(before treating)
• Fresh cows
• High SCC cows
• Positive CMT cows
 Culturing Helps Answer
• Which bacteria are the
problems?
• How prevalent are these
bacteria?
• Where should we focus
prevention?
• Which cows should be culled?
• What is the best treatment?
 Necessary Supplies
• Sterile glass or single-use, disposable plastic
vials with tight-fitting push-on or screw caps

• Plastic sample bags are not acceptable

• Nitrile or latex gloves should be worn

• Alcohol soaked cotton balls or gauze pads

• Small cooler or ice chest

 Milk Sample Collection
• Before the cow is treated
• Immediately before milking
• Minimize contamination
• Follow proper collection
procedures
Step 1
• Remove (forestrip)
3 or 4 streams of
milk from the
quarter being
sampled to
minimize chances
of sample
contamination
from bacteria in the
teat end
Step 2
• Brush dirt, debris, or
bedding particles off
• Predip with an
effective teat dip (for
example, 0.5%
iodine or 4%
hypochlorite)
• Leave the predip on
the teat for at least
20-30 seconds
Step 3
• Dry each teat
thoroughly and
remove the predip
using a single, dry
paper or cloth
towel per cow
• Pay particular
emphasis to the
teat end
Step 4

• Double-check to
ensure that the
teats and udder are
clean and dry
Step 5
• Scrub the teat end with a
cotton or cloth gauze pad
moistened (but not dripping
wet) with 70 - 80% ethyl or
isopropyl alcohol
• Use a separate swab for each
teat being sampled, even
within the same cow
• Continue to clean the teat
end until the swab is
completely clean and white
• Clean the teats on the far
side of the udder first and
followed by the teats on the
near side of the udder
Step 6
• Open the collection vial
immediately before taking sample
• Do not let the teat end touch the
container or let skin debris or dirt
enter the container
• Do not put the cap on the floor
• Keep the cap upside down and do
not touch the inside of the cap so
that no debris contaminates the
inside of the cap
• Hold the collection vial at a 45°
angle to keep debris (hair, manure,
dirt) from accidently falling into the
collection vial
• The teat should not ever touch the
collection vial or cap
• Start with the teats on the near side
of the udder followed by the teats
on the far side of the udder
Step 7
• You only need to
collect 3 to 5 ml of
milk (a few
streams)
• Do not fill the
collection vial
• Immediately place
cap on container
and seal so it is air
tight
Step 8
• Label the sample
vials using a
waterproof marker
• Be sure to identify
both the cow and
quarter
• Designate each
quarter sampled as
RF, RB, LF, or LB
Step 9
• Immediately place
collection vial on ice
• Keep refrigerated or
on ice until delivered
to the lab
• When samples cannot
be delivered to the
laboratory within 24
hours, they should be
frozen
 Common Problems
• Udders and teats not cleaned properly
• Samples taken from cows on antibiotic
therapy
• Identification numbers on the containers are
not legible or have been wiped off
• Number orientation (e.g. 18 or 81)
• Samples not transported to the laboratory
within 24 hours
• Samples not chilled during transport
• Containers broken or leaking during transport
 After Culture
• If you don’t use the results, it was a waste of time!
• Make individual treat/cull decisions
• Separate cows with contagious mastitis
• Evaluate product choices
• Antibiotic treatment
• Dry cow treatment
• Teat dip
• Vaccines
• Determine best preventative management
strategies
 But, the results say “No Growth”
• Doesn’t mean the lab made a mistake
• 1/3 to 1/2 of cultures will come back as “no
growth”
• Could be improper collection
• Periodic shedding of bacteria
• Cow has handled infection already
 Strep agalactiae
• Infected udders of other cows in
Source
herd

• Cow-to-cow
Spread • Contaminated udder wash rag
• Teat cups

• Use separate towels to wash /

dry
Control
• Teat dipping
• Dry cow treatment
Source: University of Minnesota SCC Diagnostics Tool Box
 Strep agalactiae
• Only 10-15% show clinical signs
• Decreased milk production and high somatic cell counts
• In small herds, even one cow infected with Strep. ag can
raise the bulk tank cell count
• Purchased animals are frequently the source
• Treat all cows that culture positive for Strep. ag at the same
time in all four quarters
• Penicillin is usually effective
• Milk all infected cows last until subsequent cultures are
negative
• Cull the cows that do not respond to therapy
 Staph aureus
• Infected udders of other cows
Source
• Contaminated bedding from milk of infected cows

• Cow-to-cow
• Contaminated udder wash rag
• Milker’s hands
Spread
• Contaminated milking equipment
• Improperly functioning equipment
• Injured teat ends

• Use separate towels to wash / dry

• Teat dipping
Control • Dry cow treatment
• Milk infected cows last
• Cull chronically infected cows

Source: University of Minnesota SCC Diagnostics Tool Box

 Staph aureus
• Very chronic, subclinical infection
• Can damage tissue producing areas of walled off infections that
do not respond to antibiotic therapy
• High SCC and recurrent clinical mastitis
• New infections in young animals may respond to antibiotic
therapy
• Low chance of response to antibiotics during lactation
• Somewhat higher during dry period
• Milk known Staph aureus cows last
• If it is economically feasible, cull chronically infected cows
 Mycoplasma
• Infected udder of other cows
Source
• Often from infected purchased cows/ heifers

• Cow-to-cow
• Hands of milkers
• Equipment
Spread • Common towels
• Aerosol transmission from animals with respiratory
signs
• Bacteria can move from a respiratory tract infection to
the udder

• Careful purchasing of replacement cattle

• Using bulk tank and cow culturing
• Use separate towels to wash/dry
Control • Teat dipping
• Dry cow treatment
• Milk infected cows last
• Cull any positive clinical case
Source: University of Minnesota SCC Diagnostics Tool Box
 Mycoplasma
• Tend to shed high numbers of organisms at calving time
• Often subclinical, may not have high SCC
• Does not respond to antibiotic therapy
• Milk may vary from thick appearing milk to a watery,
sandy consistency
• Cull all cows that are known to be Mycoplasma positive
• When buying animals, multiple bulk tank cultures from
the herd of origin are recommended
• Do not feed waste milk to calves
• Practice good fly control on the dairy and heifer grower
facilities
 Non-ag Streps
Source • Environment of cow

• Wet dirty lots

• Contaminated bedding
Spread • Milking wet cows
• Poor cow prep
• Milking machine air slips

• Improve stall and lot sanitation

• Milk clean dry cows
Control
• Avoid air leaks and liner slips
• Change bedding frequently

Source: University of Minnesota SCC Diagnostics Tool Box

 Non-ag Streps
• Streptococcus and Enterococcus species (non-agalactiae streps) include
Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus dysgalactiae
• Frequently occur during the dry period especially during the first 2 weeks
following dry off and during the first 2-3 weeks prior to calving
• These bacteria may cause
– Clinical mastitis with abnormal milk
– Swelling of the gland
– Fever
– Subclinical mastitis with no apparent signs
– High SCC

• Most infections eliminated by the cow's immune system or by antibiotic

therapy
• Some environmental strep. infections (18%) will become chronic and poorly
responsive to treatment
 Coliforms
Source • Environment of cow.

• Wet dirty lots

• Contaminated bedding
Spread • Milking wet cows
• Poor cow prep
• Milking machine air slips

• Improve stall and lot sanitation

• Milk clean dry cows
Control
• Avoid air leaks and liner slips
• Change bedding frequently

Source: University of Minnesota SCC Diagnostics Tool Box

 Escherichia coli
• E. coli is commonly found in bedding, manure, water,
and soil
• Can cause life-threatening illness
• Most E. coli infections are of short duration
• Some chronic
• 10% of cows may have a sudden onset of fever,
markedly decreased milk production, loss of appetite
and dehydration
• Often these cows will go down and be unable to rise
• Milk may have large clots or be watery or bloody
 Escherichia coli
• Clinical signs are due to toxins produced and
released by the bacteria
• Supportive therapy with anti-inflammatory
drugs and fluids may be required for these
cases
• Antibiotic therapy is often of little benefit
• Most often the cow's immune system will
effectively kill the bacteria
• Immunization with J5 vaccine can reduce the
incidence and severity of clinical cases
 Klebsiella
• Commonly found in organic bedding, manure, and soil
• Associated with the use of green sawdust or recycled
manure bedding
• Rates of new infections are higher in the summer
• Very difficult to treat
• Infected animals frequently have to be culled
• May have a sudden onset of fever, markedly decreased
milk production, loss of appetite and dehydration
• Often these cows will go down and be unable to rise
• Milk from the affected quarter may have large clots or be
watery or bloody
 Klebsiella
• Clinical signs are due to toxins produced and
released by the bacteria
• Supportive therapy with anti-inflammatory
drugs and fluids may be required for these
cases
• Antibiotic therapy is often of little benefit
• Most often the cow's immune system will
effectively kill the bacteria
• Immunization with J5 vaccine can reduce the
incidence and severity of clinical cases
 Enterobacter and Citrobacter
• Found in bedding, manure and soil
• May cause a life threatening acute mastitis.
• Cows may have a sudden onset of fever, markedly decreased milk
production, loss of appetite and dehydration
• Often these cows will go down and be unable to rise
• Milk from the affected quarter may have large clots or be watery or
bloody
• Supportive therapy with anti-inflammatory drugs and fluids may be
required for these cases
• Antibiotic therapy is often of little benefit
• Most often the cow's immune system will effectively kill the bacteria
• Immunization with J5 vaccine can reduce the incidence and severity
of clinical cases
 Staph species

Source • Environment of cow

• Poor teat dip coverage
Spread • Poor cow prep
• Old bedding

• Consistent teat dipping

Control • Adequate cow prep
• More frequent bedding change

Source: University of Minnesota SCC Diagnostics Tool Box

 Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus
species (Staph species)
• Can be normal inhabitants of bovine skin
• Can be found in the environment in bedding and manure
• One of the most common organisms cultured from dairy cows
• Usually subclinical mastitis
• If a herd is experiencing a high incidence of Staph species
infections, post milking teat dip products and their application
should be re-evaluated
• Staph species can be quite resistant to antibiotic therapy
• Most infections will resolve without treatment, given enough
time
• Persistent infection will likely clear during the dry period
 Pseudomonas species
• Commonly found in water (ponds, troughs, wells, and wash
hoses), contaminated teat dips
• Poor intramammary treatment administration and
contaminated multidose bottles of medications can be
sources
• Usually chronic infections
• Respond poorly to antibiotic therapy
• Clinical outbreaks can occur with swelling of the udder, high
fevers, and abnormal milk
• If clinical outbreaks occur, water supplies on the dairy
should be cultured
• Avoid access to ponds, low wet areas, and standing water
 Serratia species
• Commonly found in soil and water
• Generally a contaminant in the milk sample
• However, Serratia species may cause clinical mastitis
• Does not respond well to lactating cow antibiotic
treatment
• If Serratia species are isolated along with other more
common mastitis causing agents it may be a
contaminant
• If it is the only agent isolated, it is probably the
responsible agent
 Yeast
• May be found in contaminated multi-dose antibiotic or
other medication bottles and contaminated syringes
• Spread by contaminated intramammary infusions
where aseptic technique has not been followed
• Most cases cure themselves
• Yeast mastitis is not responsive to standard anti-
microbial therapy
• Care during when inserting instrument or antibiotic into
the udder
• Be sure to disinfect scrub teat ends with alcohol
• Use single use treatment tubes only
• Avoid treatment with multi-dose bottles of medication
 Prototheca species
• Prototheca species are algae
• Isolated from plants, bedding material, soil, mud, ponds and
standing water, manure, and water troughs
• May cause acute or chronic mastitis.
• A watery mammary secretion with flakes and clots
• Unresponsive to intramammary or systemic antibiotics
• Limit access to ponds, mud, and other areas with standing
water
• Milk cows infected with Prototheca spp. last, or with a
separate unit
• Remove infected cows from the herd
 Corynebacterium (Arcanobacterium
•
pyogenes)
Environmental mastitis (wounds, abscesses, contaminated bedding material
and damaged teat ends)
• Often called “summer mastitis,” more common when humid
• Some cows spontaneously cure
• Does not respond to therapy
• Frequently spread by flies or by direct teat end contact with a contaminated
surface
• Once an infection is established, the prognosis is poor and loss of the
quarter is expected
• Severe clinical mastitis caused by A. pyogenes is characterized by a thick,
yellow, foul smelling discharge
• Stalls should be comfortable and overcrowding should be avoided to
minimize teat injuries
• Establish an effective fly control program
Considerations for Treating Mastitis
 Culling

Four ways
Spontaneous to Treating at
recovery dry-off
eliminate
mastitis

Treatment in
lactation

Winning the Fight Against Mastitis, 2000

 Goals of Antimicrobial Therapy

1. Return cow to 2. Prevent 3. Eliminate

normal production mortality in infectious
and composition peracute cases organisms

6. Keep existing
4. Prevent new 5. Prevent drug
cases from getting
infections residues
worse

8. Reduce spread
7. Minimize
of existing 9. Improve overall
damage to
infections to other herd health
secretory tissues
cows

Winning the Fight Against Mastitis, 2000

 Spontaneous Recovery
• Sometimes, cows can recover
spontaneously without antibiotics
• Rate varies by pathogen
• More likely in mild or recently acquired
infections
• Cow’s immune system beats the infection
• Enhanced by vaccinations, nutrition, and
other efforts to minimize stress
 To Treat Or Not to Treat
• Depends on type of pathogen

– Cure rates for yeasts, pseudomonas,

mycoplasma, protoeca, etc. are almost zero

– Chronic Staph aureus not cost effective because

of low cure rates and return to subclinical state

– New cases of Staph aureus particularly in early

lactation or in younger cows may merit
treatment

Ruegg, 2009
 To Treat Or Not to Treat
• Depends on type of pathogen

– Mild or moderate coliform or Klebsiella mastitis

questionable because of spontaneous cure rate
and low antibiotic effectiveness
– Strep ag. most likely to respond to treatment,
but not prevalent any more
– Environmental streps may respond to
treatment

Ruegg, 2009
Cure rates for Existing Infections-
Antibiotic Therapy

Species Cure Rate

Streptococcus agalactiae 90-95%
Environmental Streptococci (i.e. Strep 40-50%
uberis and Strep dysgalactiae)
Staph aureus, chronic cases 20-30%
Staph species 50 to 60%
Coliforms 0 to 10%
Mycoplasma, yeasts, Nocardia 0%

Winning the Fight Against Mastitis, 2000

Ruegg Treatment Flowchart
 Reasons for Treatment Failures

2. Poor selection of 3. Stopping treatment

1. Delayed treatment
drugs or dose levels too soon

6. Protection of
4. Resistance of 5. Development of
bacteria within white
organisms to drugs bacterial-L forms
blood cells

7. Presence of deep-
seated infections
walled off by scar
tissue, clots, and
swelling

Winning the Fight Against Mastitis, 2000

What about Homeopathic Treatments?

• Be skeptical
• May hold promise in the future
• Generally, reported to improve immune status
• Method of action sometimes questionable
• Little to no conclusive data at this point
• Be sure they meet federal regulations (i.e residues)
• Insist on research evidence of efficacy
– How do they perform compared to no treatment
(spontaneous cures) or antibiotics
The Milking Machine Can Increase the
Risk of Mastitis By:
1. Spreading pathogenic bacteria between cows or quarters.
2. Damaging the teat end
- High vacuum
- Over milking
- Inadequate pulsation caused by
- Pulsator malfunction
- Short liners not closing under the teat
3. Impacts against teat ends
- Liner slips
- Air entering claw
 Teat-end Condition Scoring
• N (no ring)
• Teat end is smooth with a small, even opening
• Typical for teats soon after calving

• S (Smooth or Slightly rough ring)

• A raised ring encircles the opening
• The surface of the ring is smooth or it may feel
slightly rough but no old keratin evident

• R (Rough ring)
• Raised, roughened ring with isolated mounds of old
keratin extending 1-3 mm from opening

• VR (Very rough ring)

• Raised ring with rough mounds of old keratin
extending 4 mm or more from opening
• Rim of ring is rough and cracked, often giving the
teat-end a “flowered” appearance

Mein et al., 2001

 Causes of Hyperkeratosis (teat end
hardening)
• Milking vacuum too high
• Milking of the cow takes
too long
• Overmilking when the
quarter is empty
• Incorrect milk/rest phase
(pulsator setting)
• The liner not fitting the
teats
Hulsen and Lam, 2008
 Equipment Daily Checklist
• Develop list with installer
• Rubber goods
• Leaks in vacuum or milk lines
• Cracks or cloudiness in milk hoses
• Vacuum pump oiler and other items specific to
your milking system
• Inflations not twisted
• Dual pulsation hoses not reversed

DPC 85 The Dairy Practices Council

 Vacuum Settings

• Equipment manufacturer should know best

settings for your system
• Vacuum 10.5 to 12.5 inches (35 to 42 kPa) in
the claw
• Best setting will depend on inflations and
equipment designs
• Know what your normal line vacuum setting
is and check it several times during milking
DPC 85 The Dairy Practices Council
 Inflations (Liners)

• Need to be changed on
schedule
• As specified by supplier

• Proper tension for optimal

milking speed
If they are out of round
it is past time to change

If they are rough inside

they harbor bacteria

DPC 85 The Dairy Practices Council

 Pulsation settings
• 50% to 70% milk phase
• 50% only on single pulsation systems

• Normally 45 to 60 pulsations per minute

• 60:40 means that 60% of the time the inflation is

opening or open (milk phase) and 40% of the time
it is closing or closed (rest phase)

DPC 85 The Dairy Practices Council

 Keys to Watch

Vacuum Pulsation

Inflations

DPC 85 The Dairy Practices

February 2006 113
Council
 Pulsation settings
• 50% to 70% milk phase
– 50% only on single pulsation systems

• Normally 45 to 60 pulsations per minute

• 60:40 means that 60% of the time the inflation is

opening or open (milk phase) and 40% of the time
it is closing or closed (rest phase)

February 2006 DPC 85 The Dairy Practices Council

 Normal Milking

Milking Phase
Higher pressure
in teat

Teat end is open

Low pressure
inside milk
liner
 Normal Milking

Massage Phase
Low pressure
in teat

Teat end is closed

High pressure
between shell
and liner
Liner Slip

Liner Slips
on other teat
High pressure inside
teat

Teat end is still open

Higher pressure
inside milk liners
when air gets into
system
 Milking
Procedure
Adherence
Dry Cow Genetic
Treatment Selection

Culture/ Maximum
Strong
Treat/ Cull Milk
Immunity
Strategy Quality

Equipment Cow
Maintenance Cleanliness
Good
Record
Keeping
 Questions

Jeffrey Bewley, PhD, PAS

jbewley@bovisync.com
jbewley@cowfocused.com