teat and udder condition scores

Teat Condition Scoring Chart

A score chart to evaluate teat condition of dairy cattle.

Udder Hygiene Scoring Chart

A score chart to evaluate udder hygiene of dairy cattle.

Method for Assessing Teat and Udder Hygiene

Bade, R.D., Reinemann, D.J. and P.D. Thompson, Milking Research and Instruction Lab, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Develops a method of quantifying the bacteria population on cows’ teats that is simple, effective and inexpensive enough to be widely used on farms without requiring special test equipment.

A Tool Box for Assessing Cow, Udder and Teat Hygiene

Nigel Cook and Doug Reinemann, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tools to assess the degree of contamination in the environment are hygiene scores of the cows, culture of the bedding and assessment of teat end contamination.

Evaluation of Bovine Teat Condition in Commercial Dairy Herds: 1. Non-Infectious Factors

Neijenhuis, G.A., Morgan, W.F., Reinemann D.J. et al., The Research Institute for Animal Husbandry
Reviews non-infectious factors affecting short- or medium-term changes in teats, proposes a simple protocol for systematic evaluation of teats in commercial dairies and proposes guidelines for interpretation of these observations.

Evaluation of Bovine Teat Condition in Commercial Dairy Herds: 2. Infectious Factors and Infections

J.E. Hillerton et al., Institute for Animal Health, Compton, UK
Describes the various agents and mechanisms, causing a number of forms of trauma or lesions, may affect the condition of the teats of the milking dairy cow.

Evaluation of Bovine Teat Condition in Commercial Dairy Herds: 3. Getting the Numbers Right

D.J. Reinemann et al., The Research Institute for Animal Husbandry
Provides simple guidelines for statistical evaluation of the teat conditions.

Addressing Teat Condition Problems

I. Ohnstad et al., Teat Club International
Describes effective treatments, changes in management and changes in machine settings that appear to provide successful solutions for particular teat condition problems in commercial herds.

Relationship Between Teat-End Callosity or Hyperkeratosis and Mastitis

F. Neijenhuis et al., The Research Institute for Animal Husbandry
Covers information about the relationship between teat-end callosity and udder health.

Relationship Between Udder and Leg Hygiene Scores and Subclinical Mastitis

D.A. Schreiner and P.L. Ruegg, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Determines the relationship between udder and leg hygiene scores of lactating dairy cattle and measures of subclinical mastitis.

Methods for Interpretation of Bulk Tank Cultures and Udder Hygiene Tests for Diagnosing High Bacteria Counts: A High LPC Count is Not Always a Cleaning Failure

D.J. Reinemann, Milking Research and Instruction Lab, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Presents methods that include using a wider variety of bacteria types and the application of some simple statistical methods such as trend and correlation analysis to improve your diagnostic skills.

milk quality indicators

California Mastitis Test

Dairy Team, UW-Extension
The California Mastitis Test (CMT) is a simple, inexpensive way of detecting unseen infections. Unlike other tests that require laboratories to interpret the results, the CMT is a cowside test that gives valuable, rapid results.

Collecting Bulk Tank Milk Samples

Dairy Team, UW-Extension
Bulk tank cultures are often used in milk quality programs to monitor the types of mastitis
causing pathogens present in a herd.

Taking Sterile Milk Samples

Dairy Team, UW-Extension
Strict aseptic procedures must be used when collecting milk samples to avoid contamination with bacteria present on the skin of the cow, hands of the sampler and barn environment.

Associations Among Milk Quality Indicators in Raw Bulk Milk

Pantoja, J.F., Reinemann, D.J., and P.L. Ruegg, Dept. of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Determines characteristics and associations among bulk milk quality indicators from a cohort of dairies that used modern milk harvest, storage and shipment systems and participated in an intensive program of milk quality monitoring.

Factors Associated with Coliform Count in Unpasteurized Bulk Milk

Pantoja, J.C.F., Reinemann, D.J., and P.L. Ruegg, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Identifies factors associated with bulk milk coliform count.

Short Communication: Evaluation of an On-Farm Test to Estimate Somatic Cell Count

A.C.O. Rodrigues, et al. Department of Animal Science, University of Sao Paul and Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Compares the results of an on-farm test, named Somaticell, with results of electronic cell counting and for milk somatic cell count among readers.

Troubleshooting High Bacteria Counts in Farm Milk

D.J. Reinemann et al., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Helps dairy producers and service personnel identify sources and resolve high bacteria count problems in raw milk.

Troubleshooting High Bacteria Counts in Bulk Milk: What Needs Cleaning, the Machine or the Cows?

D.J. Reinemann, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Provides the tools to diagnosis the source of bacteria in bulk tanks which will allow the investigator to focus intervention in the right place to solve the problem.

Assessment of the Impact of Somatic Cell Count on Functional Longevity in Holstein and Jersey Cattle Using Survival Analysis Methodology

D.Z. Caraviello, et al., Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Uses individual cow somatic cell count data to estimate the impact of clinical and subclinical mastitis on the functional longevity of US Holstein and Jersey cows using survival analysis methodology.

scc across the dry period

Somatic Cell Count Status Across the Dry Period as a Risk Factor for the Development of Clinical Mastitis in the Subsequent Lactation

Pantoja, J.C.F., Hulland, C., and P.L. Ruegg, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Determines the risk of mastitis in the first 120 days in lactation based on previous somatic cell count history in a herd with a very low prevalence of contagious pathogens.

Dynamics of Somatic Cell Counts and Intramammary Infections Across the Dry Period

Pantoja, J.C.F., Hulland, C. and P.L. Ruegg, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Evaluates the relationship between somatic cell count and intramammary infection across the dry period and the risk of subclinical mastitis at the first dairy herd improvement test of the subsequent lactation.