A new educational video shows how early detection of subclinical mastitis can help producers’ bottom lines. The video from Advanced Animal Diagnostics (AAD) reveals how by changing the way they detect, treat and manage subclinical mastitis, dairy farmers are preventing losses before they occur.
“Subclinical mastitis is tricky because you can’t see it with the naked eye,” says Mitch Hockett, Ph.D., vice president of external research and technical marketing at AAD. “At a microscopic level, we can see leukocytes invading the individual mammary gland, meaning inflammation is present and the cow is fighting infection. Today, we can bring this highly-sensitive level of detection to the farm.”
AAD’s QScout® MLD (milk leukocyte differential) test is the only on-farm test that provides a differential cell count of infection-fighting leukocytes, or white blood cells, to accurately detect subclinical mastitis by quarter, in minutes per cow.
Commonly used mastitis tests do not reliably detect subclinical infections, Hockett explains, and therefore disease goes undiagnosed, compromising production, quality and animal health.
“This is a turning point for the dairy industry,” he continues. “With high prevalence in a herd, 15 percent on average, and new information and tools to take action, we can no longer relegate subclinical mastitis to a ‘cost of doing business.’”
AAD says its research shows:
– Increased milk production: 1,325 lb. more milk, on average
– Increased milk quality: 115,000 fewer somatic cells/mL
– Improved reproduction: 14 fewer days open and 18 percent fewer services per conception