The variation in treatment policy between AMS and CMS farmers

Abstract

This study was conducted to describe variation in treatment policy between automatic milking system (AMS) and conventional milking system (CMS) farmers, and identify associations between treatment policy, antimicrobial use and udder health on these farms. In total 42 farmers participated (AMS = 18 and CMS = 24) and gave their consent to use their Dairy Herd Improvement records and antimicrobial usage for this study. The farmers were interviewed about their mastitis treatment policy by telephone, using a questionnaire. The results of this study revealed that AMS and CMS farmers are remarkably similar in their treatment policy, antimicrobial use and mastitis situation. No significant differences are found about: Grading the mastitis, treating the cows, which kind of antibiotics farmers use. Still, AMS and CMS farmers differed in their definition of clinical mastitis and in how farmers diagnose clinical mastitis.