Summer mastitis usually occurs from June to September. It is mainly a disease of dry cows or in calf heifers. The animals most at risk of developing this disease are those who have had trauma to the teats and are grazing in areas with high levels of flies. Weather conditions are generally damp, mild, humid and low wind.
The sun is finally shining (hopefully), the chaos of spring has come to a close. We can all finally breathe a sigh of relief. However, while we are all basking in the better weather and longer evenings, the summer season can bring its own set of challenges. One of the most severe of these being summer mastitis.
Summer mastitis usually occurs from June to September. It is mainly a disease of dry cows or in calf heifers. The animals most at risk of developing this disease are those who have had trauma to the teats and are grazing in areas with high levels of flies. Weather conditions are generally damp, mild, humid and low wind.
Signs to keep an eye out for:
It is generally the forequarters that are affected. The gland will begin to swell one week before the animal is visibly unwell so keep an eye out for this. When stripping out the teats there will be a foul smell, a watery consistency and cheesy appearance. Often it can have blood and yellow/green pus.
Fatalities are common with this disease and so if you see signs or are worried it is best to act sooner rather than later. Unfortunately it can be very difficult to save the quarter or teat involved and so the earlier the vet is called the better. However, even with immediate action it may be that a teat amputation may be the only way to save the cow.
As we have all heard plenty of times before “Prevention is the best cure”. Prevention is key and we can follow some simple steps to try reduce the number of cases.
The best prevention is good hygiene at drying off and the use of teats sealants. Dry cow tubes can reduce the chance of developing this disease by 80% but they have to be inserted in a completely clean environment!
By Alex Laughlin
