Farming practices associated with the 'udder infection' complex.

A total of 4,129 dairy cows from 47 dairy farms were submitted each year after calving to a milk sampling for bacteriological examination. Six criteria defined the udder infection complex: frequency of minor, major and rare pathogens; rate of clinical and subclinical mastitis; and index of gravity of mastitis. Forty-seven variables described practices and their associations with the type of farms (defined by the above 6 criteria) were studied. The associated variables were dipping practices, covering of the milking parlour, disinfection practices, housing cleanliness and milk production.