There are several options for reducing heifer mastitis, such as treating with an internal teat sealant, applying teat spray before calving, or milking heifers within 12 hours of calving.
It takes up to two weeks for most heifers to establish a quiet response to milking. It is important to be patient and gentle during this period to maximise production, minimise milking times, and reduce the risk of injury. Taking care when adjusting first-calvers to the milking routine will also reduce the risk of mastitis.
Guideline 2 provides practical information on:
- Effective ways to prevent heifer mastitis
- Training heifers in the milking area.
- Acceptable numbers of heifer clinical cases around calving
- Helping heifers to have a good let down
Technote 2 provides technical information for farmers and advisers on:
- Benefits of different strategies to prevent heifer mastitis
- Selecting the right approach for your herd
- Udder oedema and possible risk factors
- Using oxytocin to establish a milk-let down response