Costs of mastitis in Canada

Abstract

Mastitis is one of the most costly and frequent diseases in the dairy industry. Costs of mastitis differ per country and farm type. Farm specific calculations are a tool to increase time and motivation input in decreasing the costs of mastitis The total costs of mastitis in Canada have never been calculated before. The aim of the study was to develop a calculation model for the costs of mastitis in Canada. In order to give dairy farmers and their advisors insight in the specific costs on mastitis on their farm a calculation model has been developed. In case no literature data was available parameters were collected by a questionnaire done under Canadian farmers. Furthermore the average calculations made by the calculation model are presented. On an average farm in Canada the costs of mastitis/year are $ 27.891. We see that mastitis in Canada costs $ 382/cow/year. A clinical mastitis case in Canada costs on average $ 983. The calculation model is available in English from the authors.