Articles

NMC Resources

This section contains a variety of information on milk quality, mastitis and relevant research.

NMC Documents and Reports
NMC Protocols, Guidelines and Procedures
Factsheets
Featured Articles
Columns
Information from Other Sources
Regulations
Translated Materials

FEATURED ARTICLES ON MASTITIS, MILK QUALITY
AND MILKING MANAGEMENT

Articles are sorted by the following categories:
Management, Prevention, Control, Treatment
Somatic Cell Counts
Mastitis Pathogens
Culturing
Machines and Milking
Housing, Cow Comfort, Welfare
Teat Health
Teat Disinfectants
Milk Quality and Food Safety

MANAGEMENT, PREVENTION, CONTROL, TREATMENT

Motivating Farm Workers to Harvest High Quality Milk

Make Sire Selection Part of Your Mastitis Control Strategy

Nutritional Influences on the Prevalence and Severity of Mastitis in Dairy Cows

Minimizing the Effects of Immunosuppression Through Management and Nutrition

Nutrition's Role in Mammary Gland Health

Extra-Label Drug Use (ELDU) and the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act (AMDUCA) – How They Impact the Producer Veterinarian, Processor and Consumer

Mastitis Effects on Reproduction

Practical Monitoring of Clinical Mastitis Treatment Programs

Management Strategies for Dairy Systems

Antimicrobial Treatment Strategies for Streptococcal and Staphylococcal Mastitis

The Organic Farming Philosophy and Its Effect on Udder Health

When to Forestrip?

Signs of an Environmental Mastitis Problem

Dairy 2002: Animal Disease Exclusion Practices on U.S. Dairy Operations (USDA NAHMS Report)

Useful Ideas and Principles for the Implementation of Reinforcement Programs to Keep Milkers Motivated

The Science Behind Milk Ejection

Beyond Antibiotics - What Else Can We Do?

Reference of Dairy Cattle Health and Health Management Practices in the United States: Results of the NAHMS Dairy 2002 Survey

Managing New Intramammary Infections in the Fresh Cow

Mastitis Control and Dry Cow Therapy in the Nordic Countries

Quality Milk Starts With Quality Management

Standard Operating Procedures: Managing the Human Variables

Factors Affecting Susceptibility of Dry Cows to Mastitis

Regular Monitoring of Udder Health Status Essential Part of Mastitis Control Program

Prepping Cows: Who Needs It?

Associations Between Clinical Mastitis and Pregnancy on Ontario Dairy Farms

Milk Quality and Mastitis Tests University of Wisconsin publication

Relationship of Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation With Mastitis and Milk Quality

Ten Myths of Mastitis Therapy

The World of Mastitis

Somatic Cell Counts: Measures of Farm Management and Milk Quality

Deciding to Dry-Off: Does Level of Production Matter?

The 10 Smart Things Dairy Farms Do to Achieve Milking Excellence

Rational Approaches to Making Mastitis Treatment Decisions on the Farm

Troubleshooting Mastitis Problems

The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Milking Routines University of Wisconsin Extension Publication

Detecting Mastitis Cow-Side

Costs of Herd-Level Production Losses Associated With Subclinical Mastitis in U.S. Dairy Cows

Successful Treatment Begins with Proper Teat Prep and Infusion Method

Majority of Producers Eligible for Multiple Component Pricing Plans

Milking Frequency Observations

What's the Best Method to Launder Udder Cloths?

Coliform Mastitis Therapy

Vaccination Against Coliform Mastitis: A Historical Perspective

Risk Factors Associated with Environmental Mastitis

Controlling Contagious Mastitis

Clinical Mastitis Characteristics Varied in Low, Medium and High SCC Herds

Utilizing and Evaluating the HyMast Test on Dairy Farms

Developing Strategies to Reduce Mastitis Caused by Environmental Streptococci

Mastitis Can Take On Several Different Forms

Guidelines to Culling Cows for Mastitis Virginia Tech Extension Bulletin

Process Control: Timely Feedback for Quality Milk Production at the Farm

Vaccinating Heifers Reduced Severity of Clinical Signs

Mastitis Prevention Strategies for the Dry Period

Influence of Clinical Mastitis During Early Lactation on Reproductive Performance of Jersey Cows

How Does Mastitis Affect Reproductive Performance?

Breeding, Selection and Somatic Cell Counts - Where Are We Today?

Genetic Tools for Improving Health and Longevity

The Influence of Negative Energy Balance on Udder Health

Udder Health Management In a Large Dairy Herd -- Maintaining Control

A Comparison of Betadine and Chlorhexidine For Drying-Off Mammary Quarters Chronically Infected With Staphylococcus aureus

Economic Benefit Associated With Antibiotic Treatment of Heifers Before Calving

Biosecurity on Dairies published by the Bovine Alliance on Management and Nutrition

Biosecurity Principles as Applied to Udder Health

Trends in Norwegian Udder Health Data During 1975 Through 2000

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CULTURING

NMC Procedures for Collecting Milk Samples

Does Freezing Affect Milk Samples?

Using Bulk Tank Milk Cultures In a Dairy Practice

Bulk Tank Milk Cultures Can Provide Useful Information

Realistic Milk Culture Programs for Herd Expansion

Interpreting Milk Culture Reports: Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus

Culture Programs for Dairy Herds

Misdiagnosis of Milk Sample Cultures

Reasons for Negative Culture Results

Bulk Tank Cultures Can Help Diagnose Problems

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MACHINES AND MILKING

The Need For Stimulation in Various Bovine Breeds and Other Species

Listen for Liner Slips and Fall-Offs

Consider Drainage When Troubleshooting Cleaning Problems

Evaluating Milking Systems: When and Why

How Many Infections are Caused by Milking Machines?

Overmilking and Teat Condition

Milking System Cleaning and Sanitizing: Troubleshooting Milk Bacteria Counts

Udder Health and Milk Quality on Ontario Dairy Farms Utilizing Voluntary Milking Systems

The Impact of Automatic Milking on Udder Health

A Proper Milking Routine: The Key to Quality Milk

Simple Checks of a Milking System

New Tools For Measuring The Effect of Stimulation and Take-Off on Milk Flows

Design of Milk Harvesting Systems for Cows Producing 100 Pounds of Milk Daily

What Factors Influence "Milkability"?

Ways Machine Milking Influences Mastitis

Vacuum Control: A Variable Frequency Drive with Direct Vacuum Feedback

Liner Design Influences Milking Characteristics

Are the Cows "Milking Out?"

Unit Attachment and Alignment Important

Using Computerized Data to Find Time for Milk Quality

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HOUSING, COW COMFORT, WELFARE

Effects of Cow Comfort on Milk Quality, Productivity and Behavior

Take Steps to Reduce Stress in Dairy Cattle

The Ancient Cow Contract - Ergonomics, Health and Welfare Issues in Dairy Cattle Housing

Free Stall and Corral Management as Related to Mastitis Control

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TEAT HEALTH

Addressing Teat Condition Problems

Evaluation of Bovine Teat Condition in Commercial Dairy Herds: 1. Non-Infectious Factors

Evaluation of Bovine Teat Condition in Commercial Dairy Herds: 2. Infectious Factors and Infections

Evaluation of Bovine Teat Condition in Commercial Dairy Herds: 3. Getting the Numbers Right

Evaluation of Bovine Teat Condition in Commercial Dairy Herds: 4. Relationship Between Teat-End Callosity or Hyperkeratosis and Mastitis

Troubleshooting Herds with Poor Teat Condition

Teat Lesions Can Lead to Milking Problems, Mastitis

To Seal or Not to Seal: Internal Teat Sealant Strategies

Teat End Interactions with Germicides

Ways Teat Characteristics Affect Milking Management and Udder Health

Observations on Teat Lesions

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TEAT DISINFECTANTS

Choosing the Best Teat Dip for Mastitis Control and Milk Quality

Look For These Characteristics in Teat Germicides

Request Research Results on Teat Dips

Use Teat Dips That Have Been Tested for Effectiveness

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MILK QUALITY AND FOOD SAFETY

NMC Research Committee Note: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci and Dairy Food

Statistical Process Control As A Milk Quality Monitoring Tool

Practical Use of Bulk Tank Analysis for Mastitis and Milk Quality Problems

Foodborne Pathogens, Mastitis, Milk Quality, and Dairy Food Safety

Human Health Risks Associated with High Somatic Cell Count Milk -- NMC Board of Director's Report

Quality of the Milk Supply: European Regulations versus Practice

The Role of Milk Quality and Mastitis Control in Addressing Future Dairy Food Marketing Opportunities in a Global Economy

Quality Milk Starts With Quality Management

What is the Current Milk Quality in the U.S.?

High SCC Affected Cottage Cheese Composition and Yield

Somatic Cell Count, Mastitis, Dairy Product Quality, and Cheese Yield

Milk Quality - A Worldwide Perspective (Keynote address from the 1998 NMC Annual Meeting)

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SITE MAP

USING THE RESOURCES

Click on the resources subheading to display the documents, articles and reports. Use the Search function to find specific articles on the NMC website.