Mastitis

[MamaNewt]

Hello!
I have a milking Jersey that has gotten mastitis multiple times in the last few months. I have changed the cleaning procedure and looked over her feed to see if anything will help but she continues to get it. The last milk test I got....the vet said it was environmental factors...so I don't know what do with that. Could she just be prone to getting it? If that is the case, what should I do? Should I bother trying to get her bred? Should I sell her? Also, she is not the most pleasant to milk. I have to keep her hobbled or milking is no go.
And if there are only traces of mastitis (in a CMT) is it ok to drink the milk or just dump it?
I'm really torn about my next move. I would love some advice and encouragement. Thank you for all the help.
This forum has been a life saver.
MamaNewt

 

[Warren Allison]

Hi Mama. You might get an answer quicker, posting this in the dairy forum. It is called Got Milk. Scoll down past Cattle Sales and Show Board, and it will be the one under Show Board.

 

[Dsth]

I was born into the family dairy business and milked until I was 42 before changing lifestyle. you could try some of the newer teat dips that claim to help seal the teat end after milking. I tried them years ago and they do help. most environmental infections enter the teat channel within the first hour after milking so if you can keep her standing in a clean area after milking, that would help also ( keep in stanchion if that is where you milk or feed after milking so she doesn't leave the barn and lay down right away.) Did your vet do a sensitivity culture to determine what antibiotics to use to fight the mastitis? she may be sore from the mastitis causing the bad temperament but if she is a problem then I have learned that culling is a sure cure. milking twice a day is not much fun when you have to worry about getting kicked all the time.