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We'd been really struggling to keep our SCC below the 400k threshold for some months, and after the wettest winter and early spring for years, used antibiotics with little or no effect. Quite desperate to improve milk quality and get out of the high-risk area. Desperate problems require desperate measures, but nothing we were doing was lowering the cell count.
In search of a fresh approach, we contacted the team at Dairy Automation Limited and they agreed to help by installing a few "CellSense™ Units". Now at least we could easily find the high SCC cows on a daily bases, and drench them with a new product from Wormade as part of their MASTADE plan. This was designed to help reduce SCC and control both subclinical and clinical mastitis through boosting animals' natural immunity.
Within two weeks SCC was below 200k. Crisis over! Both products were so effective that we now have confidence to target SCC below 100k, and maximize milk production from the herd. This has never been possible before. So what a relief to get out of penalty range, back on track, and money in the bank.
From this exercise we've discovered what can only be the best and most practical Cell Count reader on the market, CellSense™, which accurately measures SCC of the cows as they are being milked. And now we have the confidence with the MASTADE plan to know that an oral drench will control mastitis in clinical cows, and lower SCC in any others that have spiked above normal. Since the introduction of MASTADE six months ago the Cow profit is rising, with lowering of the somatic cells and we're operating an antibiotic-free dairy, which shows significant cost savings on "Drugs".
Three additional benefits arose from using OMS, which were quite unexpected. Cow conception rates over the spring were all completed within three weeks, which normally takes us six weeks. This was exceptional for us, but it was in line with recent New Zealand research which showed that fertility increased considerably, if SCC was lowered, particularly over the mating period.
Secondly the OMS response with lame cows was also as dramatic, with lameness disappearing as cow SCC was reduced.
Thirdly no need for any other drench as this one covers a wide band of cow problems, I am advised there is no need for dry cow therapy, at the end of lactation although time will tell this one as we have only been using this product for six months.
The positive outcome from our crisis is the willingness of both companies to listen to our problems, and come up with practical solutions to resolve them and to think outside the box.
We can not speak highly enough of Dairy Automation and Wormade and their products. They are in my opinion an effective practical solution for any dairy farmer facing the escalating problems of rising SCC, grades, and financial losses from subclinical and clinical mastitis, and without the need for emergency herd testing.
Date of Posting: 14 November 2011
Posted By: Walter F. Thompson Director of Hoteo Farms, 2001 L
Just Southwest of Dargaville lies the small town of Te Kopuru, where you will find the Smith Family running a Family Dairy Operation. Richard, his wife Karley, brother Peter and Doug make up the team. They are currently milking 380 cows thru a new 44 bail De Laval Rotary shed, which was up and running in September. Richard first approached DAL earlier in the year when going through the planning and design stages of the shed. Richard had looked at a number of different options for his shed in terms of automation before settling with the DAL System.
Originally Richard had opted to put in a Basic Remote Draft system from DAL with the intention of upgrading to an Electronic Herd Identification system later, so we went through the plans together and plotted out where all the correct plumbing for the cabling etc should go for the new shed. A short while later we had the Remote Draft system for the Smiths running and they were soon drafting cows at a touch of a button.
A few months later Richard contacted us when the shed was completed and could see the value and advantage of adding a Herd Identification System to the new shed. After a little engineering work (e.g. top ring and antenna frame) we were able to come in and fit the system. This consisted of cups on and cups off screen, for which we made a custom swing arm assembly that made it easier to enter information. This is a feature of DAL installation in which we customise each individual job to suit each individual farmers needs.
Upon completion of Installation training on how to use the system was carried out and Richard and the team were surprised at how easy the system is to use. Within the first milking with the new system, they were already entering alerts such as treated cows, 3 quartered cows etc. It is now a shed that anyone can come and milk in without the worries of treated cows getting milked into the vat, as it sounds an audio and visual alert as the cows enter the platform. Another bonus of the system was that Doug who is blind is still able to milk because of the cows that need monitoring are announced when they come on.
In the end DAL were able to supply the Smiths with a very reliable and cost effective system to compliment the new shed, which also has cup removers and bail restraints. This makes it a nice and simple but modern shed. With this system gives them the bonus of also being able to add DAL Somatic Cell Sensors "Cellsense" to the system in the future.
Date of Posting: 14 November 2011
Posted By: Brigalow Farms
We have had quite a few cows where CellSenseTM has picked up that they have mastitis and we haven't been able to see it.
Date of Posting: 07 September 2011
Posted By: Chris and Trish Van Der Bijl
I've noticed a huge difference. The day CellSenseTM was installed, the somatic cell count was 550,000 and now it is down to around 250,000 so it is going to save me a heck of alot of money.
Date of Posting: 07 September 2011
Posted By: David and Cathi Harris
Using CellSenseTM is giving us individual SCC results quickly and directly at each bail, LIVE!
Date of Posting: 07 September 2011
Posted By: Mullanville Farms
We had 40 cows on penicillin, now we are down to 8 and subsequently noticing an increase in volume... I can see that this has been an instant labour and money saving exercise for my farm.
Date of Posting: 07 September 2011
Posted By: Mara Blackwell
DAL has been very good and prompt to deal with and we have had no technical hitches. This company's flexibility makes it attractive with their openness to bring new components on board. The hardest thing was tagging the cows - the rest has been bloody easy"
Date of Posting: 05 September 2011
Posted By: Shawn Southee, Hopkins Farming Group | Waihora
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