Mastitis diagnostics and performance monitoring: a practical approach

Abstract

Abstract In this paper a review is given of frequently used mastitis diagnostic methods in modern dairy practice. Methods used at the quarter, cow, herd and regional or national level are discussed, including their usability for performance monitoring in udder health. Future developments, such as systems in which milk-derived parameters are combined with modern analytical techniques, are discussed. It is concluded that, although much knowledge is available and science is still developing and much knowledge is available, it is not always fully exploited in practice.

Keywords

• bacteriological culturing (BC)
• diagnosis
• mastitis control
• monitoring
• somatic cell count (SCC)