Most farmers use an antibiotic dry cow tube at drying off to help cure existing infections that exist and to prevent new infections that may develop during the dry period.

Why? Research trials show that 50-60% of all new infections caused by environmental pathogens occur during the dry period. Additional research shows over 50% of mastitis detected in the first 100 days in milk originate in the dry period.

Remember, the high-risk period for infections is in the first three weeks of the dry period and the last two weeks before a cow calves again. Shortly after drying off, a cow is converting to non-lactating so the udder is filling up and not getting emptied. Similarly, when a cow is getting close to calving again, the udder is filling up in preparation for the new calf. Helping the cow to prevent and overcome infection during these high-risk periods is the objective of using dry cow antibiotics and teat sealers.

The dry-off routine should be completed on a day when you are cool, calm and collected. If you are rushing away to another event after milking then maybe leave the dry-off job for another day. Under no circumstances should you attempt to dry off cows during milking.

Preparation of the cows to be dried off, the equipment to be used and adequate help is crucial to the success of the job.

Glanbia vet Shane McElroy said that “it is very easy to introduce bacteria into the udder at drying-off if the teats are not disinfected and sterilised”.

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