As the seasonal supply dairy season winds down it's important to keep the focus on the cows.
How we dry off the milking cows and their management over the following two to three weeks is critical to minimise the number of mastitis infections that may occur.
During drying off, keep cows fed at maintenance levels, this can be a good time to use lower quality feed ie hay or other lower quality (ME) feeds and maintain good access to water.
The aim is to shut down milk secretion and seal the teat canal as quickly as possible; this is usually complete about two weeks after last milking.
Most new infections occur in quarters where the teat canal has not sealed. To assist this cows should be put in dry, clean paddocks (not heavily soiled with manure, little bare ground, no fresh dairy effluent) for 7-14 days after dry-off.