An Integrated Extension and Education

Program to Reduce Mastitis and

Antimicrobial Use

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2013-68004-20439

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Michigan State University1

The Pennsylvania State University2

Mississippi State University3

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University4

R.L. Schewe3, G.A. Contreras1, J. Kayitsinga1, P Durst1, S. Moore1, R. Mobley4, E.P. Hovingh2, R.O. Martinez1, L.M. Sordillo1, R.J. Erskine1

Aim 1- Develop Quality Milk Alliance (QMA) Evaluation System

Aim 2- Develop Quality Milk Specialist Certificate program

Phase I – OnlinePhase II – Practical Shortcourse

Aim 3- Test QMA System

160 herds MI, PA, FL

Dairy Producer and Veterinarian

Input

Increased dairy food security and quality

QMA farm evaluation system to reduce

mastitis and antimicrobial use

Quality Milk Specialists

certified to perform QMA farm evaluations

5 Key Parts of the QMA Farm Evaluation

QMA

Evaluation

Milking

Proficiency

Milking System

Environment

Infected Cows:

Monitoring and Therapy

Farm Management

Culture

Farm Management Culture

• Engage all Farm Personnel into Quality Milk Program, including drug use

– Management Practices

– Attitudes

• Help Dairy Producers become “better coaches” for employees

Aim 1- Develop QMA Farm Evaluation

Producer Surveys

Producer and Employee Focus Groups

Advisory Panel

Pilot QMA Evaluation- Test practical and logistical application in 12 herds

Producer, Employee and Veterinarian Focus Groups

Advisory Panel

QMA Evaluation System - For education program (Aim 2) and On-farm evaluation (Aim 3)

Aim 1aGathering Herd Information

• Mail Survey: Herds– 1700 Grade A certified dairy herds– 752 Michigan– 820 Pennsylvania– 128 Florida

– 628 Returned (41% response)

• Mail Survey: Wolfgang Freese Survey Research Laboratory (Mississippi State University) – “Five points of contact by mail” – Initial letter– First copy of survey– Reminder letter– Second and third copy of the survey (if needed)

FL MI PA Mean

(all states)

Survey Sample 119 737 765 ----

Surveys Returned

(total response rate)

23

(21%)

281

(39%)

324

(45%) (41%)

Number of Herds:

< 250 cows

4 242 311 ----

Number of Herds:

250-500 cows

7 14 7 ----

Number of Herds:

> 500 cows

12 25 6 ----

Mean Herd Size 1,086 187 77 107

3 month BTSCC

(cells/mL)

238,000 161,000 199,000 191,000

Survey Summary

• High compliance for “standard” milking protocols

• Employee training inconsistent

• Significant barriers- Therapeutic decisions

– Record Keeping and Review

– Bacterial culture of milk

– Perceptions of Oxytocin and “Natural Remedies”

Aim 1a (cont)• Focus Groups

– Perspective of dairy farm employees

– Potential barriers of communication

– MI, PA, and FL

• Owners/managers (4 groups)

• English-speaking employees (3 groups)

• Spanish-speaking employees (5 groups).

• Julian Samora Institute, Michigan State University.

Quality Milk Alliance Farm Evaluation

• Testing in 12 pilot herds

• Fall, 2013 – Winter 2014

• Practicality and logistics