Package Of Practices To Improve The Udder Health Status And Clean Milk Production

Quality is vital in animal production.

- Amol D. Adbhai, Rohit S.Kurhe, Sunil M. Yadav and​ Dnyaneshwari Bhand

Worldwide, consumers concerned are becoming increasing about the safety of milk and dairy products. Therefore, the safety of milk has become an integral part of the production process from farm to fork. Clean and high quality milk can only be produced by healthy cows and healthy udder, i.e., cows free of udder infection managed and milked under clean and hygienic environment. Because quality of milk cannot be improved following extraction from the udder of cow, the production of high quality milk requires an effective mastitis control program in addition to adoption of proper hygiene at farm. Important aspects of clean milk production programme are: cows, cow environment, milking system, milking practices or procedures, milkers hygiene and milk storage. A deficiency in any part of the overall system will result in decreased milk quality. Mastitis is the inflammation of mammary parenchyma. It is usually caused by bacterial which have penetrated the udder. These bacterial generally enter the udder through theteat canal. Mastitis can be kept to a lower level by adopting suitable udder health management programme which intern are based on two main principles viz, elimination of existing infection and prevention of new infection. Elimination of existing infection can be achieved by antibiotic therapy both during dry and lactation period. Clinical cases require early therapy. Antibiotic sensitivity test of milk from the infected quarters helps to prescribe proper therapy. Prevention of new infection can be achieved by adopting a suitable udder health management programme. Use of CMT on the entire herd at least fortnightly or monthly intervals is very useful aid in detecting herd mastitis problems. If it is suspected that a subclinical case of mastitis may progress to clinical, begin prompt therapy. Several years ago the NMC (National Mastitis Council) developed a list of 5 points and then further modified into 10 points to mastitis control but the lack information in f