Welcome to another episode of Livestock Community!

Today we welcome Victoria Asselstine, ruminant technical consultant at Jefo Nutrition. She earned her PhD from the University of Guelph, where she studied mastitis in dairy cattle. In this episode, we dive deep into what mastitis is, why it’s such a major concern for dairy farmers, and how it impacts milk production and quality. Enjoy!

TIMESTAMPS

(00:25) What is mastitis, and why is it such a significant concern in dairy farming?

(00:51) Typical signs and symptoms of mastitis

(01:40) What are the primary bacterial pathogens that cause mastitis in cows?

(02:40) The economic impact of mastitis on dairy farms

(03:10) How is mastitis diagnosed?

(04:04) Are there preventive measures that can be taken to reduce the incidence of mastitis?

(05:36) How does the immune system of a cow respond to mastitis?

(07:48) What role does nutrition play in the prevention and management of mastitis?

(08:43) How important is milking equipment in preventing mastitis?

(09:42) What is dry cow therapy, and how does it help in controlling mastitis?

(10:58) How does stress affect the incidence of mastitis in dairy cows?

(11:19) Are there any emerging technologies or research in the field of mastitis management?

(12:25) Can you discuss the role of somatic cell counts in monitoring udder health?

(13:26) How do you handle a case where antibiotics are not effective, or resistance is a concern?

(14:32) What advice would you give to dairy farmers for managing and preventing mastitis in their herds?