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VG88
Registered: 12-2006
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Backflush Systems
There are several repercussions of not spotting mastitis until you find a quarter not milked out and a stringy clot hanging from the teat end; you`re playing roulette with your bonuses, she`s going to be a lot harder to clear up with antibiotics, the increased risk of cross infection, and of course there is a welfare issue here.
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13/3/2007, 15:48
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Daisysdad
VG87
Registered: 11-2004
Location: Midlands
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Re: Backflush Systems
I agree with you I strip every cow before attatching the cups. That doesn't mean I'm right and the other man is wrong if it works for them who are we to pass judgement. As for lazy 400 cows is no doddle. IMHO
DD
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13/3/2007, 19:04
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Charryman
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Registered: 12-2004
Location: Glos. UK
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Re: Backflush Systems
We must be REALLY lazy! We stopped doing any teat prep many years ago on the theory that the less you mess about with the teats, the less chance of introducing infection. Our cell counts have sat happily within the top premium bracket as have our bactoscans (apart from odd times over the years when there have been plant cleaning probs, etc). Our mastitis incidence is very low for a high output 300 cow herd. I stand by our theory 100%, if there ain't a problem then don't create one.
I am sure that if we did teat prep then we would have a lower bactoscan purely by removing the bacteria from the outside of the teat, but we wouldn't get any bigger premium, so why pay the labour to do it?
--- Anyone wants a good Charollais ram try www.lowerye.com
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13/3/2007, 20:47
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Craigalea
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Backflush Systems
My sentiments exactly Charryman. It is not laziness. We dont need to.
We have not gone out of premium band for years (ill ask dad how many but 10+ would be a good guess).
If there is a problem yes you need to do something about it. I guess there would be major differences between cows housed in barns and not.
We do wash cows that have played in mud puddles (not that there is many of them of late) or have sat in manure but a quick wash with water does the job.
The only real mastitis problems are cereal offenders and some of them clear up without treatment anyway.
If out cell count goes above 150 we check the usual cows first. Even then some of then we can just stop milking that quarter for a week and then milk it right out after into the bucket and she clears up the next day. It sounds wrong but treating some of them aggravates the problem and they never clear up. Im thinking of culturing the next one just to see exactly what it is.
One old cow was a bad offender but no one really wanted to sell her. The plan was to dry the quarter. It was rotten for two days, clear for two days (or so). This happened for a couple of weeks and then it was fine. Back in the test all quarters milked cell count 198 (previous all over 1 million). Next herd test will sort whether it really worked or not.
Shoot me if you think its cruel but it saved us alot of worry and her from Broas men with sharp knives.
We do treat others that come up. Just not certain cereal offenders.
--- Cattle art and bad cow puns: http://sketch-a-bull.tumblr.com/
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14/3/2007, 5:44
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foxleigh
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Registered: 06-2003
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Backflush Systems
We pretty much do the same as you atho I think I did just read lately that we are actualy supposed to wash and strip etc before cups go on according to foodsafe australia or some such body
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14/3/2007, 6:07
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smous
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Location: South Africa
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Re: Backflush Systems
quote: Craigalea wrote:
cereal offenders.
What is a cereal offender? Some one who has his way with, steals or blows up boxes of Kellogs???
--- WWS-SA
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14/3/2007, 7:32
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Craigalea
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Backflush Systems
i was wondering when someone would pick that up. My bad.
--- Cattle art and bad cow puns: http://sketch-a-bull.tumblr.com/
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14/3/2007, 7:40
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noname25
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Registered: 10-2006
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Re: Backflush Systems
Yeah def each to their own. I can see both points of view though. My dad is one of those who would never dream of not prepping the cow and if i said but i have too many he'd say well get down to the number you can manage then! haha. Less seems to be more for alot of people though as Charryman said maybe less playing with the teat is better for the cow..We all doing what works for us.
Loford Holsteins
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14/3/2007, 20:36
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VG88
Registered: 12-2006
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Backflush Systems
So when the dairy inspector turns up and asks what your milking routine is, you tell porky pies?
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15/3/2007, 8:38
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