Mastitis control practices: differences between herds with high and low milk somatic cell counts.

Effects of differences in herd mastitis control management in maintaining low herd average SCC, was studied. Washington State DHI herds with Holstein cattle and enrolled in the SCC program (n = 309) were ranked by percentage of cows in their herd with SCC less less than or equal to 283,000 cells/ml. "Low herds" (n = 28) were among the 56 herds with the highest percentage of cows with SCC less than or equal to 283,000 cells/ml and "high herds" (n = 31) were among the 75 with the lowest percentage of cows with SCC less than or equal to 283,000 cells/ml. Herds were visited annually for 2 yr by a technician who collected samples and recorded data. Geometric mean bulk tank SCC during the year between herd visits was 175,000 and 460,000 cells/ml for low and high herds. Milking time hygiene practices, teat dipping, and dry cow therapy were practiced with equal frequency on low and high herds. Differences in function and maintenance of milking equipment did not discriminate between herd groups. Differences in mastitis control management of low versus high SCC herds were that managers of excellent control herds more frequently had highest producers milked first and clinical cows milked last; had automatic milking unit detachers; kept moisture content of cow bedding lower; and had workers disinfect teat ends prior to intramammary antibiotic treatment. Managers of low herds were more likely to use computers and attend dairy informational meetings. Results suggest subtle differences in mastitis control strategies differentiate the low and high SCC herd groups.