Jeffrey Bewley: How to Make Cost-Effective Mastitis Treatment Decisions

In a 2016 Progressive Dairy article, Dr. Jeffrey Bewley examined a discussion on mastitis treatment practices led by Dr. Pamela Ruegg.

In this article, Dr. Jeffrey Bewley provided an overview of treatment practice steps and considerations (suggested by Dr. Ruegg) that would not only save dairy farms money, but which help reduce the amount of antibiotics used throughout the process.

1. Detect the response, not the infection

Whenever symptoms of mastitis are first detected, collect milk samples for culturing and separate the cow for further observation.

2. Evaluate severity based on response

According to Dr. Bewley, Dr. Ruegg suggests using a 0-to-3 scale for determining severity (1 – abnormal-appearing milk, 2 – abnormal milk and udder, 3 – milk and cow appear abnormal).

3. Act quickly

In severe cases, treatment should start immediately. For non-severe cases, consider the cow’s history before moving forward with treatment.

4. Determine if antibiotics are needed

After review of the animal’s history, it’s important to determine if antibiotics are needed to assist in treatment. Variables to consider include cow’s age, lactation stage, previous mastitis cases, etc.

5. Choose the best treatment

For detailed mastitis treatment options and read the full article, click here.

Jeffrey Bewley – What to Consider When Evaluating Precision Dairy Technology

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley knows the value the right precision dairy monitoring technology can bring to your operation, including providing the data your dairy needs to improve efficiency and overall performance.

Dr. Bewley also knows that precision monitoring technologies are available in a number of types and capabilities, making it crucial to evaluate each new technology carefully before making a significant financial commitment.

When considering a new technology, be sure to ask:

Does it actually do what it claims?

Always seek third-party validation of the technology’s effectiveness before diving in.

Does it stand up to dairy farm conditions?

Weigh the product’s potential durability and utility in your particular environment beforehand.

How long will it take for the devices to fail?

While it’s not realistic to expect any technology to last forever, a good goal is to have no more than three percent of devices fail each year.

Check out Dr. Jeffrey Bewley’s comprehensive list of what to look for in precision dairy technology.

 

Jeffrey Bewley – Areas of Support and Expertise

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley specializes in solutions and services that help dairy farmers improve sustainability, productivity and profitability.

A dairy housing and analytics specialist at Alltech, Dr. Jeffrey Bewley taps into years of practical dairy industry experience to ensure dairies are performing at their best, ensuring operations are equipped to overcome challenges, maximize output and optimize animal health.

Areas of support and expertise

Dr. Jeffrey delivers expert on-farm support in the areas of

• Precision dairy technologies, including objective evaluation of image-based, parlor-based and image-based technologies
• Heat stress reduction, such as recommendations for technological solutions for keeping animals cool and maximizing potential
• Cow-focused facility design techniques that maximize cow comfort and minimize injuries and lameness
• CowSignals training to read cow behavior and identify areas for improvement in routine and surroundings
• Mastitis management and prevention, including assessment of existing cow handling and milking procedures

Learn more about Dr. Bewley and Alltech Dairy Cow solutions today.