Quality Milk Alliance:Survey Findings

June 18, 2013

Rebecca ScheweJean Kayitsinga

Casey OdomAlan Coats

Outline

1. Key findings2. Survey methodology3. Descriptive statistics4. Key variables: bivariate findings5. Key variables: multivariate findings

Key Findings

• Attitude does matter!• “I get concerned if the somatic cell count of my herd

reaches…”• “Mastitis is a problem on my farm”

• Key practices:– Use of oxytocin for milk letdown– Use internal teat sealant at dry off– Use intramammary antibiotics at dry off (dry treat)– Changing liners more than 5 times per year

Survey Methodology

Survey Methodology

Herd Size

Production

BTSCC

Milking Practices

Mastitis Management

    Never Sometimes Frequently Always N/A

Milk mastitis and treated cows in a separate group

Weighted n 1,019 439 132 1,025 265Percent 35% 15% 5% 36% 9%

Use oxytocin for milk letdownWeighted n 1,045 1,544 208 71 60Percent 36% 53% 7% 2% 2%

Use intramammary antibiotics at dry off (dry treatment)

Weighted n 292 321 135 2,223 3Percent 10% 11% 5% 75% 0%

Use an internal teat sealant at dry offWeighted n 1,467 202 62 1,127 63Percent 50% 7% 2% 39% 2%

Dock tailsWeighted n 2,180 267 65 406 40Percent 74% 9% 2% 14% 1%

Singe hair on the udderWeighted n 1,879 558 201 239 51Percent 64% 19% 7% 8% 2%

Mastitis Management    Never Sometimes Frequently Always N/A

Use vaccines to control coliform mastitis

Weighted n 1,672 367 127 722 35

Percent 57% 13% 4% 25% 1%

Use vaccines to control staph aureus

Weighted n 2,188 336 62 239 92

Percent 75% 12% 2% 8% 3%

Insure strict compliance with milking protocols

Weighted n 199 387 643 1,431 176

Percent 7% 14% 23% 50% 6%

Insure strict compliance with milking protocols*

Weighted n 28 125 240 543  

Percent 3% 13% 26% 58%  

Clean alleys/gutters after or during each milking

Weighted n 83 316 378 2,107 82

Percent 3% 11% 13% 71% 3%

Train employees in mastitis protocols

Weighted n 354 379 416 903 664

Percent 13% 14% 15% 33% 24%

Train employees in mastitis protocols*

Weighted n 58 164 221 435  

Percent 7% 19% 25% 50%  

* Only including those with non-family employees.

Mastitis Treatment and Diagnosis    Never Sometimes Frequently Always N/A

Use individual cow SCC to identify infected cows

Weighted n 552 789 620 898 71Percent 19% 27% 21% 31% 2%

Use conductivity in milk to identify infected cows

Weighted n 1,622 517 179 243 233Percent 58% 18% 6% 9% 8%

Culture milk samples from high SCC or conductivity cows

Weighted n 991 1,369 296 155 73Percent 34% 47% 10% 5% 3%

Culture milk samples from clinical mastitis cases

Weighted n 933 1,480 258 168 41Percent 32% 51% 9% 6% 1%

Culture bulk milk tank samplesWeighted n 1,753 798 110 127 39Percent 62% 28% 4% 4% 1%

Keep written or computer treatment records for all cows

Weighted n 1,042 453 304 1,022 52Percent 36% 16% 11% 36% 2%

Treat mastitis cows for the full course of antibiotic doses

Weighted n 281 647 518 1,439 63Percent 10% 22% 18% 49% 2%

Review treatment records before making treatment decisions

Weighted n 547 1,006 431 771 106

Percent 19% 35% 15% 27% 4%

Mastitis Treatment and Diagnosis    Never Sometimes Frequently Always N/AUse systemic antibiotics to treat clinical mastitis

Weighted n 718 1,346 309 234 190Percent 26% 48% 11% 8% 7%

Use intramammary antibiotics to treat clinical mastitis

Weighted n 418 998 567 849 55Percent 14% 35% 20% 29% 2%

Use antiinflammatory drugs to treat clinical mastitis

Weighted n 926 1,241 330 224 87Percent 33% 44% 12% 8% 3%

Use oxytocin to treat clinical mastitis

Weighted n 1,428 1,023 225 183 62Percent 49% 35% 8% 6% 2%

Use natural (organic) therapies to treat clinical mastitis

Weighted n 1,089 955 406 257 119

Percent 39% 34% 14% 9% 4%

Use alcohol pads before intramammary tube infusions

Weighted n 187 191 170 2,339 57Percent 6% 6% 6% 79% 2%

Train employees in treatment protocols

Weighted n 441 423 332 864 655Percent 16% 16% 12% 32% 24%

Train employees in treatment protocols*

Weighted n 118 204 146 402  Percent 14% 23% 17% 46%  

* Only including those with non-family employees.

Holding Meetings

Significant Variables (Bivariate)     

Decreases BTSCCGloves worn

Q29

 Post-dip

Q34

 Children Under 16 Milk (with employees)

Q55

 Financial Incentive (with employees)

Q56

 Financial Penalty (all)

Q57

 The entire milking system is evaluated

Q38

 Number of times liners (inflations) are replaced per year***

Q39

 Having a Herringbone Parlor

Q21

 Housing Dry Cows on Fresh Sand

Q20

 Housing Dry Cows on Fresh Sand and Pasture

Q20

 Housing Lactating Cows on Fresh Sand

Q20

 Use oxytocin for milk let down

Q42

 Use intra-mammary antibiotic at dry off (dry treatment)

Q42

 Use an internal treat sealant (at dry off)

Q42

 Low Threshold of Concern for BTSCC

Q49

Increases BTSCCWater Used During Prep

Q26

 Having a Tie Stall Parlor

Q21

 Having a Robotic Parlor

Q21

 Housing Dry Cows on Loose housing (straw, sawdust, or shavings) & Pasture

Q20

 Housing Lactating Cows in Stanchion or Tie Stall Barn

Q19

 Housing Lactating Cows on Pasture

Q19

 Bedding Lactating Cows on Platform with straw, sawdust, or shavings

Q20

 Bedding Lactating Cows in Loose housing (straw, sawdust, or shavings)

Q20

 Bedding Lactating Cows on Pasture

Q20

 Mastitis is a problem on my farm

Q51

Mastitis Management

Attitude

Multiple Regression Models of BTSCC on Selected Characteristics

• Model 1 – Controls only• Model 2 – SSC acceptable threshold• Model 3 – Milking practices• Model 4 – Mastitis management• Model 5 – Mastitis Diagnosis and treatment• Model 6 -- Sources of information• Model 7 -- Attitudes about mastitis• Model 5 – Cow environment (bedding and milking

facilities)

Predictors Standardized Coefficients (Beta)

Male .108

Years on dairy farm .189**

White .010

Amish .050

Mennonite .076

Native English speaker .178*

High school or equivalent .171

Some college (include associate degree) .148

Bachelor's degree or beyond .192†

< 80% income from dairy farm .022

80 – 99% income from dairy farm .046

Non-family employees -.112

Children < 16 years help with milking .056

Sole proprietor -.084

# of milking cows (log) -.093

Michigan -.218***

R2 0.176

Model 1 – Controls only

20

Model 2 – SCC Acceptable Threshold

Predictors Standardized Coefficients (Beta)

Acceptable threshold < 300,000 -.568***

R2 0.441

21

Model 3 – Milking PracticesPredictors Standardized Coefficients

(Beta)

Udders washed or sprayed with water before milking

.068

Gloves won during milking -.031

Teats dried before milking .011

Teats disinfected after milking (post-dip) -.007

Change liners more than 5 times/year -.118*

R2 0.457

Note: Responses were 1=Yes; 0=No

22

Model 4 – Mastitis Management (Q42)

Predictors Standardized Coefficients (Beta)

Use oxytocin for milk let down -.122*

Use intramammary antibiotic at dry off (dry treatment)

-.223***

Use an internal treat sealant (at dry off)

-.055

R2 0.520

Note: Scale ranges from 1=Never to 4=Always

23

Model 5 – Diagnosis and Treatment (Q43)

Predictors Standardized Coefficients (Beta)

Use individual cow CSS to identify infected cows

.158**

Culture milk samples from high SCC or conductivity cows

-.136*

Culture bulk tank milk samples -.112*

R2 0.557

Note: Scale ranges from 1=Never to 4=Always

24

Model 6 – Sources of Information (Q48)

Predictors Standardized Coefficients (Beta)

Milk cooperative .053

Farm journals .128*

Internet -.087

Drug company representatives -.118*

R2 0.586

Note: Scale ranges from 1=Very unimportant to 5=Very important

25

Model 7 – Attitudes (Q51)

Predictors Standardized Coefficients (Beta)

Mastitis is a problem on my farm .150**

Milking equipment plays an important role in mastitis problems

-.140**

R2 0.617

Note: Scale ranges from 1=Strongly disagree to 5=Strongly agree

26

Model 8 – Cow EnvironmentPredictors Standardized Coefficients

(Beta)

Stanchion or tie stall .271***

Stanchion or tie stall & Pasture.120**

Loose housing, Outdoor Lot, & Pasture .183***

Platform with sawdust, straw, or wood shavings

.110*

Sand - (Fresh).085

Other bedding types .100*

Employees received a financial or other incentive based on milk quality

-054

R20.666

Recommendations

• Back the basics

• Attitudes: lower acceptable threshold

• Practices:– Use of oxytocin during milking– Use internal teat sealant at dry off– Use intramammary antibiotics at dry off (dry treat)– Changing liners more than 5 times per year

Next Steps

• Sub-group analysis

• Employee practices

Attitude

Concern Average BTSCC100,000 97,323150,000 113,812200,000 163,728250,000 199,367300,000 240,372350,000 268,332400,000 301,578450,000 353,819500,000 286,197

> 500,000 317,214Chi Squared 315.8609***

Designed with my Veterinarian

Small Medium Large Total

Designed with Vet Yes 732.4 52.29 72.31 857

Percent 28% 58% 82%No 1850 38.51 15.56 1904Percent 72% 42% 18%Total 2582 90.81 87.87 2761