Title: Mastitis control systems: The Norwegian experience
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to describe the methods, results and to suggest possible improvements in the Norwegian Udder Health Control Program implemented from 1982. The program is an integrated part of The Norwegian Cattle Health Services from 1995. The goal of the program is to improve udder health by keeping the BMSCC low, to reduce the use of antibiotics, to keep the cost of mastitis low at herd level and improve the consumers’ attitude to milk products. In 1996 a decision was made to reduce the use of antibiotics in all animal productions in Norway by 25 % within 5 years. Relevant data has been sampled through the Norwegian Cattle Herd Recording System (NCHRS); Health records from 1975, SCC data from 1980, all integrated within NCHRS. From 2000 the mastitis laboratory data was included in the NCHRS. Data on clinical disease, SCC and mastitis bacteriology has been presented farmers and advisors in monthly health periodicals since 1996 and on the Internet from 2005. In 1996 Norwegian recommendations on the treatment of mastitis was put in practise. Correct milking and correction of milking machines has been emphasized and less effort has been put on dry cow therapy and teat dipping. A selective dry cow therapy program is about to be implemented these days. The results so fare show a 50% reduction in clinical treatments of mastitis from 1994 to 2004, a reduction in BMSCC from 250,000 to 114,000 and a total reduction in the mastitis cost from 0.23 NOK to 0.13 NOK per litre milk corresponding to 9.2% and 3.7% of the milk prize, respectively. The reduction is attributed to changed attitudes, breeding, eradication of BVDV and preventive work. The improvements seem to continue.
Publication Year: 2005
Publication Date: 2005-10-24
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 10
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