DRYING OFF ABRUPTLY PROVEN TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE APPROACH
SMALL GROUPS
Drying off cows in groups of 10-15 is ideal.
Anyone who has dried off cows will tell you that by cow number 15, you are well fed up of the task. Complacency can set-in after this, short cuts will be taken and this will ultimately lead to a greater risk of cows developing mastitis before calving.
Mark each cow that has been dried off so that she is clearly visible. We have heard horror stories where cows that been recently dried off have mixed with cows still milking.
A can of marker spray is a very minimal expense compare
SELECTIVE DRY COW THERAPY
This is a hot topic of conversation at the moment. It involves the selection of cows with a low cell count, usually below 150,000, and only using a sealer on these cows at drying off.
A very recent milk recording should be used, i.e. within the last three weeks, as any longer period leaves too much time for cell counts to fluctuate. The strictest hygiene procedures should be adhered to.
If even a speck of dirt enters the teat canal, then we are effectively putting bacteria into the cow’s quarter and closing the door behind it, allowing it to brew for the dry period with a resulting mastitis at or even before calving.
Discuss with your vet whether selective dry cow therapy is suitable for your herd.
Remember, the infection risk during the dry period is up to seven times higher than during lactation.
This highlights just how important it is to dry off cows correctly. THERE IS a common misconception that a dry cow tube will dry off the cow — that somehow, by administering the tube, the milk will automatically cease to be produced by the cow.
This, unfortunately, is not the case. The purpose of the antibiotic tube is solely to fight bacterial infection. Steps must be taken to ensure that cows are ready to be dried off.
At this time of year, any cow that is producing 9 litres or less per day can be dried off immediately.
÷ Cows producing more than 12 litres per day need to have their yields reduced by the last drying off date.
Reduce concentrate feeding to less than 2kgs per cow per day for a week prior to drying off. Three days before drying, cut out concentrates altogether.
Moving to a paddock with minimal cover can also help reduce yields.
÷ Never restrict access to water. Animal welfare guidelines require that water is available at all times.
Dry off abruptly. This has been shown to be most effective. There is no need to skip milkings or skip days prior to drying off.
÷ Weather permitting, put the cows in a clean, dry paddock that is away from the milking parlour and milking herd for three to four days after drying off.
If cows are housed, they should have access to clean dry cubicles. Cubicles should be cleaned twice daily.
Administering a dry cow tube to a cow that is still producing a lot of milk carries with it a lot of risk.
There is a high chance that this cow’s udder will fill up with milk in the following days.
This is especially problematic when cows are housed as leaking of milk will contaminate cubicle beds and greatly increase the risk of infection.
I have heard of people milking these cows out again a few days later and administering more tubes.
In this case, it is important to talk to your vet about increasing the withdrawal times.
Ensuring that cows are ready to be dried off will avoid such hardship.