Dairy cows are most susceptible to new intramammary infections (IMIs) during the dry period. IMIs acquired during the dry period can have a significant impact on milk production, milk quality, herd removal and reproductive performance post-calving.

Led by Dr. Simon Dufour, Université de Montréal, experts from the Mastitis Network worked in collaboration with Dairy Farmers of Canada to develop a new fact sheet in English, French and Spanish that contains best practices and visual step-by-step procedures for the application of an internal teat sealant at dry-off.

Dairy cows are most susceptible to new intramammary infections (IMIs) during the dry period. Cows are at greatest risk two to three weeks after dry-off and two to three weeks prior to calving.

Mastitis has a large economic impact on a dairy producer’s bottom line. Research indicates the direct and indirect costs, which include veterinary, discarded milk, extra labor, cow mortality, repeat cases and milk losses, amount to $1.7 - $2 billion per year.¹ Preventive protocols are the best option to curb 50-60% of all new cases that occur during the dry period.² Dry cow antibiotic therapy has been the most widely used method until recently. With the movement to reduce antibiotic use and regulations preventing organic dairy farms to use dry cow antibiotic therapy, teat sealants have been added to protocols or even used exclusively.