National Mastitis Council Announces Inaugural Webinar - Cowsmo

National Mastitis Council Announces Inaugural Webinar

Eric Hillerton, world-renowned milk quality expert, to focus on  basic and cost-effective mastitis prevention strategies.

“The Five-point Mastitis Control Plan” headlines National Mastitis Council’s (NMC) inaugural webinar. This one-hour educational offering starts at 2 p.m. Central time on Nov. 7.

J. Eric Hillerton, a semi-retired consultant on animal health and milking systems, will serve as the NMC webinar presenter. Hillerton retired as the chief scientist at DairyNZ where he managed a research team. Previously, he served as principal scientist at the Institute for Animal Health in the United Kingdom, where he led several teams, including contract research for the animal health industry.

A University of Edinburgh doctoral graduate, Hillerton serves as an adjunct professor in dairy systems at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. For more than 40 years, Hillerton researched the epidemiology and control of mastitis and other dairy cattle diseases, including bovine spongiform encephalopathy and foot-and-mouth disease. Also, he studied developments in milking technology, including automated systems and milk quality, and veterinary entomology.

During the one-hour webinar, Hillerton will address:

  • Mastitis prevention, control and treatment
  • Hygienic milk production
  • Dry cow therapy
  • Udder health

The original Five-point Mastitis Control Plan revolves around these basic tenets: 1) treat and record clinical mastitis; 2) post-milking teat disinfection; 3) dry cow therapy; 4) cull cows with chronic mastitis; and 5) maintain milking equipment. As technologies and research evolved, milk quality researchers proposed modifications, including seven- and 10-point plans. Other mastitis control recommendations include establishing udder health goals, maintaining a clean, dry and comfortable environment, following proper milking procedures, maintaining biosecurity for contagious mastitis pathogens, and monitoring udder health status.

To register for this free webinar, go here and follow the prompts. As the webinar approaches, registrants will receive an e-mail with information on how to log in to participate. If you are an NMC member and cannot attend the live program, you may access the webinar here, after Nov. 18.

NMC is a professional organization devoted to reducing mastitis and enhancing milk quality. NMC promotes research and provides information to the dairy industry on udder health, milking management, milk quality and milk safety. Founded in 1961, NMC has about 1,000 members in more than 40 countries throughout the world. For more information, go to here.

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