Effectiveness of Educational Efforts in Implementing Mastitis Control Procedures in Commercial Dairy Herds

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Abstract
Dairymen (50) in northeastern Ohio [USA], whose herds had a history of persistently high Wisconsin Mastitis Test scores, were invited to participate in this project, with 43 agreeing to do so. These dairymen were divided into 2 experimental groups and 1 control group to determine the effectiveness of 2 intensities of educational effort on adoption of mastitis control procedures and to demonstrate the effectiveness of mastitis control recommendations. A teat dipping [TD] and dry cow therapy [DCT] program was adopted by more herds in the group with intense educational effort than in the intermediate or control group. [TD is beneficial in lowering the incidence whereas DCT is beneficial in shortening the duration of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae infection. In combination, over time, the prevalence of infection in a dairy herd is expected to be reduced.] Percentages of herds in each group utilizing this program in 1977 (start of project), 1978 and 1979 were 8, 75 and 92 for the intense group; 30, 50 and 50 for the intermediate group; and 10, 27 and 27 for the control group. Prevalence of infection declined more rapidly in the intense group with 42, 28 and 24% of cows infected; 39, 25 and 30% in the intermediate; and 56, 35 and 42% in the control group in 1977, 1978 and 1979. Those herds adopting a TD and DCT program had infection prevalence of 41, 25 and 20% of cows; bulk tank Wisconsin Mastitis Test scores of 15.5, 14.7 and 11.4; and milk production per cow per day of 18.4, 18.4 and 17.5 kg in 1977, 1978 and 1979.