New guidance for dry cow management

The free guidelines stress the need for farmers to reduce disease challenge and minimise antimicrobial use on their farm.

Research carried out has shown that the dry period still presents a major risk for acquisition of new infections in cows left untreated at drying off, even in herds with a low level of intramammary infections and good management.

Download the Responsible Use of Antimicrobials in Dry Cow Management guidelines now

Farmers are advised to use the guidelines and work with their vet to produce a dry cow strategy bespoke to their herd in order to best manage the issues around dry cows on their farm.

Activities such as monitoring milk quality and infection status using somatic cell counts and bacteriology is also advised to help farmers decide the appropriate strategy for each cow to be dried off. This is both at the herd and, where appropriate, individual cow level.

Appropriate treatments include:

• Do nothing and monitor the cow closely for the potential development of mastitis (a health and welfare risk for the cow)
• Use an internal teat sealant – good hygiene is really important for this to work
• Use a dry cow antibiotic
• Use both an internal teat sealant and antibiotic

Download the Responsible Use of Antimicrobials in Dry Cow Management guidelines now

NFU Chief Adviser (Animal Health & Welfare), Catherine McLaughlin, said: “RUMA guidelines underpin the NFU’s policy in terms of veterinary medicines and their use. This is of huge importance to the industry due to the increasing problem of resistance in both human and veterinary medicine, as highlighted in the recent One Health report.

“The new guidelines for dry cow management on dairy farms add to the suite of advice that is available for all livestock producers on the RUMA website.”