Best Interlocking Cow Rubber Mats For Improved Comfort And Productivity

A cow’s comfort is directly proportional to its productivity and profitability. Dairy cows need to lie down for a duration of 12 hours in order to boost milk production. Increased rest time results in increased blood flow to the udder.

Cows ruminate better while sleeping. This results in up to 30% increase in milk production. Lying down also lets the hooves dry off. This reduces the risk of diseases. But a cow will not lie down when the barn or pen is not comfortable.

Making the pen comfortable by introduction of softer lying material such as cow mats and mattresses is one of the major ways of increasing cows resting time. You may increase cows lying time thus increasing milk yield and profitability by installing comfortable cow rubber mats or thick mattresses.

How Do Interlocking Cow Rubber Mats Influence Cow Comfort?

Cow rubber mats are an excellent choice when it comes to improving cow’s comfort. Cow-comfort is non negotiable especially when you are targeting milk profitability. Comfortable dairy cows have a higher chance of having a good net margin.

Dairy Cattle Mats Benefits

Dairy cattle mattresses have numerous benefits to the cows. These benefits included;

Keeping The Ban Fresh And Clean

Stalls floored with cattle mats keep the cows dry and safe from environmental hazards. They are easy to install on concrete, wooden, natural soil and asphalt floors. These mats are easy to clean and will give you the guarantee of a clean barn at all times.

Some cow mats may require you to have some background information about the appropriate cleaning techniques but most interlocking rubber mattresses do not require any specialized techniques.

Reduction Of Bedding Costs

The fact that interlocking rubber mats can be used for a long time means that your bedding costs will be reduced drastically. A comparison with sawdust of wood shavings reveals that you will cut the cost by almost 75%. This is not to mention that it will also save you the cost of waste disposal.

Improved Traction And Slip Resistance In Cow Sheds

Cows keep moving. If the cow is not resting, it will probably be moving around the shed while playing or feeding. Its at such ties that the cows may slip and fall. Every farmer should aspire to reduce such slips in the barn at all times.

Installing rubber cow mats is the sure way of minimizing slips and falls in the cattle shed. This goes a long way in eradicating lameness and unnecessary injuries.

Elevation Of The Cow

The inch or two introduced by the rubber mattress is very important in barn drainage. As the water flows, there is the guarantee that it will not get to where the cow sleeps. This facilitates proper drainage keeping the cow dry and well padded. The cow can thus continue sleeping while you clean the shed.

Dust Reduction

Dairy cows ought to be kept in dust free environments. The dirt not only affects the cows but also contaminates your milk. It should thus be kept at the lowest level possible. Rubber cow mats and mattresses come in handy in minimizing dust in dairy cattle sheds. Properly cleaned mats have the capacity to eliminate dust completely.

Improved Insulation

Cows use a lot of energy to keep the bodies warm especially when sleeping on cold surfaces. Installation of rubber cow mattresses helps keep the cow warm at all times. This means that the cow will spend little energy on heat production thus more energy will be channeled to milk production.

Easy Sterilization

Interlocking stall mats are easy to sterilize. The surface allows the farmer to use disinfectants in the shed without worrying about making the shed uncomfortable for the cows. If an infected cow was lying down on a particular mat, the mat can be disengaged from the rest and cleaned independently. This may not be possible with other types of mats such as roll mats.

The Effects Of Increased Cow Lying Time

A normal dairy cow is normally motivated the shed’s comfort to lie down for a period of 10 to 12 hours. Most cows will prefer lying to eating. They feel more comfortable while sleeping.

Sleeping in cows is known to affect their production directly. Increased lying time can boost milk production and also improve cow’s welfare. This is because the cow is likely to ruminate and produce more saliva while sleeping than while standing.

The saliva contains essential enzymes that aid in food digestion. The more the saliva, the better the digestion process.

In addition to saliva production, sleeping increases blood diffusion. A standing cow has a diffusion rate of 3l per minute while a sleeping cow has a diffusion rate of 5l per minute.

Best Interlocking Cow Rubber Mattresses Reviewed

Balancefrom Interlocking Puzzle Mat With EVA Foam

The durable Balancefrom puzzle mat is one of the best non-skid mats. Its usually used in gyms, kitchen floors, horse stables and cow barns. These mats create a comfortable environment for cows.

The puzzle mats are easy to install. The pieces connect quickly with ease. They can therefore be assembled and disassembled quickly with ease. This makes it very effective in cow barn that require to be cleaned from time to time.

Balancefrom mats adopt a water and noise resistant design. Its thus suitable for cows as it lets urine flow seamlessly leaving the mat dry and clean.

The high-density mats that have a ½” thickness offer excellent support to the cow. It offers the much-needed cushion that allows the cow to sleep comfortably for many hours.

Product Specifications

  • Size: 24” x 24” x ½”
  • Color: Black, Blue and Grey
  • Warranty: 2 yrs.

Product Features

  • Non-slip traction
  • Extra thick (½) inches
  • Light weight
  • Easy to clean
  • High density EVA foam
  • Puzzle interlocking system
  • 3 Colors to choose from
  • Versatile design
  • Easy assembly
Outstanding Features
High Density EVA Foam

EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) foam is a material popularly used to substitute natural rubber, PVC, vinyl, polyurethane, fiberglass, mineral wool and wood composites. It provides excellent gloss and remains sturdy at low temperatures. Its popularity in animal mats and mattresses may be attributed to its ability to resist stress cracking, UV radiation and its hot melt adhesive and waterproof properties.

Non-Slip Surface

The main aim of installing interlocking cow rubber mats is ensuring that the cows are comfortable not only while sleeping but also while walking. Everyone fears falling and so do cows. They will thus feel uncomfortable walking or trying to lie down on slippery surfaces.

Non-slip surfaces give the cows some peace of mind reducing their stress levels. They make them feel comfortable while walking around the shed and will tend to sleep more hours. This eventually translates into more milk production.

Pros

  • Easy assembly
  • Versatile
  • Water and noise resistant
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • High quality foam for best cushion and support

Cons

  • They are thin and susceptible to break

Prosource Fit Interlocking Tile Mat With EVA Foam

Nothing feels better than getting the highest quality product at a bargain. Prosoucefit is one of the interlocking rubber mats that will give you value for money. It is designed to absorb impacts and delivers excellent comfort.

The mattress package consists of six (6) twenty-four (24) inch tiles and twelve (12) border pieces. The pieces lock tightly and with ease. This allows you to shape your mattress to the specific needs.

Prosource fit mats are thick enough to absorb the terrible impact of the cow hitting the concrete floor while lying down. The ½ inch thickness gives the cow the much needed joint and knees relief.

Product Specifications

  • Size: 24” x 24” x ½”
  • Color: black
  • Weight: 5 pounds

Product Features

  • Excellent non-skid surface
  • Easy to assemble and disassemble
  • Water resistance
  • Versatile dense EVA foam
  • Adjustable coverage
Features To Look Out For
Versatile Dense EVA Foam

Cows need to rest for at least four (4) hours a day. Some however tend to sleep fewer hours or even fail to sleep. One of the factors that influences cows sleeping time is cow comfort. Comfortable cows sleep longer hours.

The versatile EVA Foam give cows the much-needed cushioning. This gradually changes their sleeping habit. Eventually, you will observe that the cow will prefer resting while sleeping.

Water Resistance

Water resistance basically means that water or urine cannot get inside the mattress. The high-density foam will thus offer a warm and comfortable.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble and disassemble
  • Easy to clean
  • Offers excellent insulation
  • Provides good cushioning
  • It is sound proof

Cons

  • Interlocking pattern keeps changing

Interlocking Cow Mattress Buying Guide

Selecting the best interlocking cow mattress can be a little difficult. The market is awash with all types of interlocking barn and stall mats. This makes it important to understand what you ought to look out for while shopping for stall mats. Some of the factors to consider include;

Size

Interlocking cow mats vary in size. They can range from 30 cm square to 2 meters square. Well, there are other larger mats that may measure almost 2ft square. These are designed to be installed in huge stalls and holding areas. Once interlocked, several mats can make one huge mat.

The most important aspect that will determine the size you need to go for is your stalls size. Ensure that you are getting mats that fit in the stalls without folding the mat. The weight of the mat may also determine the size you choose. Large mats tend to be heavier that smaller ones.

Weight

Cow mattress weight is mainly determined to by the type and size of material used. Interlocking rubber mats vary in size and thickness. This makes some heavier than others. A single piece may weigh up to 600 pounds. Such pieces may be difficult to install. You therefore need to assess the weight before making your final decision.

Quality

Just like any other product in the market, the quality of rubber mats varies from one manufacturer to the other. Though you may only get to assess the quality after usage, the guarantee given by the manufacturer should give you a rough idea of what is quality and what isn’t. A guarantee of 5-10 years is an indicator of a high-quality mat.

In absence of the guarantee, an evaluation of the size and type should also help you determine the quality of interlocking mats. Thicker mats are usually better quality than thin ones. You may also check whether the rubber is re-vulcanized or bound with urethane glue. Re-vulcanized mats are of higher quality.

Permeability

This is the ability of water or fluids to pass through the mats. The best interlocking cow mats shouldn’t be permeable. They shouldn’t let any water or urine sip through them into the floor. Low quality mats may be partially permeable. This makes them wear out fast and may also have a powerful stench.

Grooved, Flat Or Footed Bottom

Most of the cattle stall mats in the market are flat bottomed. These are the mats that have the probability of trapping urine underneath. Though interlocking mats leave no space between mats, gaps may emerge as the cow moves or turns. This may result in urine sipping though the gaps.

If the underlying surface is semi-permeable such as compacted stones/rocks, the urine may not be much of an issue. Non-permeable surfaces such as concrete may however result in accumulation of urine that releases harmful ammonia gas.

Grooved and footed mats allow the urine to escape by allowing room for it to escape under the mattress. This may however be subject to other factors such as the underlying surface and the slope. In high traffic areas, you may even flip the footed or grooved cow mattresses. Placing the cattle mats with the grooved side up increases traction reducing the risk of slips and falls.

Price

Cattle stall mattresses are different and so is the price. The price will vary depending on the type, thickness, size and even the quality. The price should guide you on the range you can afford. Check out for discounts and offers when making your purchase.

Mattress Yielding

Mattress yielding is very important in cow comfort. Most farmers install concrete floors in the cow sleeping stalls. The concrete is very hard and can cause stress on joints. This may result in injuries and sores.

To counter the floor hardness, it is important that every farmer installs rubber cow mattresses. These mats ought to be soft and thick to deliver the desired yield. Most interlocking rubber mats are designed to provide enough yield and cushion the cow.

Drainage

Urine produces ammonia gas. This is a poisonous gas that may cause acute anhydrous ammonia intoxication. This results in cow blindness, respiratory diseases, drooling, recumbency or even death.

Excellent dairy cow mattresses should be able to ensure that no urine rests in the shed. When urine sips through the mat, it settles at the bottom. This soils the bedding making it hard to clean and maintain. On the other hand, when the urine flows to the shed floor, only small parts of the mattress get soil thus are easy to clean.

The selection of the cow barn mattress should therefore be informed by the draining capacity. You may opt to go for interlocking rubber mats that drain through or those that don’t depending on your shed floor structure.

The Success Behind Essential Oil For Mastitis Treatment

Dairy farming started many years ago. Mastitis, a nightmare for many farmers, also dates many years back. This has been a pain for almost every farmer. Treatment for mastitis has never been easy. It’s costly and may result in huge losses. Sometimes it will cost you a number of animals. The good news is that mastitis can be treated with antibiotics and without antibiotics.

Most dairy farmers are used to getting the easy way out especially when it comes to cow’s treatment. Their target is getting back to the profit-making streak as soon as possible. This makes them disregard their animal’s health and safety. A wise farmer ought to make informed decisions that will see them milk the cow for many years.

Informed decisions are particularly important when it comes to dealing with mastitis. Once mastitis sets foot in the farm, it may last years before it can be completely eradicated. The painful truth is that it might be there to stay. When confronted by such a situation, all you need to know is how to manage mastitis in your farm effectively.

Mastitis management requires investment in long term solutions. With time, cows develop resistance to antibiotics used to treat mastitis. Mastitis treatment without antibiotics remains to be the sure way of managing the disease in the farm.

There are many forms of mastitis treatment without antibiotics. These include homeopathy, use of antioxidants, using topical oils, herbal treatment among other natural remedies. These natural mastitis treatment methods have proven to be very successful and can be used for many years.

Extraction Of Essential Oil

Essential oils are plant compounds. They capture the flavor and scent of the plant from which they are extracted. They may be obtained through mechanical methods such as cold pressing or distillation.

Essential oils may be extracted from barks, leaves, cloves or roots. Some plants such as Aloe Vera have a lot of pulp in their leaves and tend to produce a lot of oil.

Effectiveness Of Essential Oils In Dairy Mastitis Treatment

It is worth noting that most commercial products used to treat mastitis contain essential oil compounds. This makes it necessary to understand these essential roles and the role they play in the treatment of mastitis.

Essential oils have successfully been used in the prevention and treatment of mastitis. Research has shown that essential oil can also be used to treat joint pain and inflammation which are common in cows suffering from mastitis.

Some of the commonly used essential oils are wintergreen, Japanese mint, aloe vera and eucalyptus oil. All these oils have unique properties that make them effective in the fight against mastitis infections.

10 Types Of Essential Oil For Mastitis Treatment

1.      Japanese Mint Essential Oil

Japanese mint is renowned for the high menthol content. It is the menthol that gives mint its anti-inflammatory characteristic. It also makes it an effective antibacterial against bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. The menthol increases heart rate, vessel constriction and excites the sensory and motor nerves. This eases the pain associated with mastitis and boosts the immune system.

2.      Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus essential oil contains eucalyptol which is one of the most powerful antiseptics. This makes it a reliable analgesic, anti-inflammatory, insecticide and anti-bacterial remedy. In the fight against mastitis in cows, it may thus be used to treat burns, eczema, wounds and control external parasites.

3.      Wintergreen Essential Oils

Wintergreen essential oils are rich in methyl salicylate. This serves the same purpose as aspirin. It is an anti-inflammatory remedy that has analgesic, rubefacients, anesthetic and antiseptic properties.

4.      Aloe Essential Oils

Aloe essential oils have a long history in treatment of animal as well as human diseases. Aloe Vera has antibacterial, analgesic, antiseptic, antifungal, angiogenic and moisturizing properties. This makes it effective in treatment of ulcers, eczema, open wounds, mycosis and allergic reactions.

5.      Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is highly antibacterial. It has cleansing properties that gives the cow a calming, soothing and relaxing feeling while treating the infection. This relives the cow of the stress associated with mastitis.

6.      Tea Tree Essential Oil

This is commonly known as melaleuca. It is best known for its antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. The oil helps fight mastitis in cattle when applied on the infected area.

7.      Basil Essential Oil

Renowned for its ability to draw heat and curb infections, basil oil treats cows mastitis when applied on the infected region. It may be diluted with coconut oil to facilitate efficient massaging of the teats and udder.

8.      Oregano Essential Oil

Oregano essential oil has been proven to treat mastitis in cattle. It may be diluted in honey and used to massage affected teats. The oil has anti-bacterial properties that make it very effective.

9.      Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense and resin essential oils have been used for thousands of years to treat chronic pain and inflammation. The acid contained in the frankincense has analgesic and anti inflammatory properties that go a long way in preventing cartilage damage.

10.  Evening Primrose Essential Oil

This is a type of oil that is rich in an acid known as gamma linolenic acid. This is classified as omega-6 fatty acid and has strong anti-inflammatory properties. These properties help reduce skin stiffness, joint pain and tenderness.

Are Essential Oils Used To Develop Mastitis Antibiotics?

Essential oils are not only used to treat mastitis naturally but are also used to make antibiotics. The organic oil contains antibacterial properties. When hypothesized, a blend of essential oils may be formulated. This brings synergy thus the production of an effective mastitis antibiotic.

The commonly used essential oils for mastitis include Oregano, Lemongrass, Thyme, Tea tree and cinnamon. These have been blended and tested on E. coli and the results have been impressive.

Conclusion

Essential oils have been in existence for millions of years. They are just as old as the trees are. Their effectiveness in treating major diseases such as mastitis was discovered way before civilization. The ancient men crushed plants and treated their animals even without the understanding of the science behind the plants’ composition.

To date, essential oils remain to be a key pillar in the treatment of mastitis in dairy cattle. These serve as the natural remedy for the perennial problem that seems to develop resistance against most of the antibiotics.

The natural oils coupled with regular therapy deliver desirable results. As more scientists continue to conduct research on these oils and their effectiveness in treating mastitis, the future is bright and dairy farmers can rest assured that they will always have a way round this monster.

How To Choose The Best Cow Mattresses For Your Dairy Farm

Cow comfort is very essential in rearing healthy and happy animals. The animal’s well-being is very important socially and economically. Research has shown that comfortable animals produce more milk and have few health complications. Its thus paramount that every farmer implements the best ways to boost cow comfort. One of the sure ways is investing in the best cow mattresses.

Cow mattresses go a long way in boosting cow comfort. They have numerous benefits thus improve how the cow sleeps, lies down and gets up after sleep. These are the three crucial factors that veterinaries have identified to be high contributors to animals’ lameness if not handled carefully.

Well, cow mats and mattresses come in different forms, shapes and sizes. Their price also varies from one type to the other. This makes it a little confusing while searching for the best cow mattresses. Here are the basics to ease your search for cow beddings and help you settle on the best mat.

1. Anti-Skid Surface

The cow needs to feel comfortable while walking on the mats. Just like human, animals fear falling. They will thus avoid the mats at all costs if they instill the fear.

One of the reasons that the cow will reject sleeping mattresses is skidding. The mattress you install should thus be anti-skid to give the cow confidence while lying down or standing up.

2. Provides Cushion And Support

Cushioning is very vital in cow comfort. Hard surfaces make the cow feel uncomfortable and may not sleep as much as it would want to. The mats need to give a cow enough support and cushioning. This avoids transferring the weight to one side of the body thus making it uncomfortable.

3. Effective Insulation

Warmth soothes the cow to sleep. The longer the cow sleeps, the more the production. On average, a cow should sleep for four hours and spend at least eight hours drowsing. Comfortable sleeping pads motivate the cow to sleep unlike uncomfortable surfaces.

4. Moderated Humidity In The Pen

Humidity moderation in cow barns is very important. Quite a good number of disease-causing pathogens are known to thrive in humid areas. Such pathogen includes mastitis Bactria that has wreaked havoc in many dairy farms.

Cow mats go a long way in controlling humidity in cubicles as well as allays and holding areas. You need to invest in the best cow mats that can be cleaned and dried with ease. This will ensure that minimal water remains in the pens thus low humidity levels.

5. Easy To Clean

Dairy cattle mats ought to stay clean all the time. Hygiene is vital in rearing a healthy herd. As mentioned earlier, disease causing bacteria thrive in dirty environment. It is thus paramount that you ensure that the surface is easy to clean and maintain.

Cow mats are quite easy to clean. The material, especially rubber, releases the dirt with ease. You will have an easy time cleaning and disinfecting the mats compared to the convention floors.

6. Durability

The best cow mats ought to be durable and long lasting. These mats are costly. You thus need to ensure that you are getting value for money and the sure way is long service. Cows are heavy and the mats chosen should have the capacity to withstand the weight for years.

7. Price

When it comes to selection of cow mats, price takes priority. Many are the times that many people have foregone the best cow mats simply because of the price. Truth be told, the best mats aren’t cheap. You will need to have a good budget. However, this doesn’t mean that you cannot get a good mat at an affordable price. Just don’t expect them to be in the lowest tier.

8. Material

Cow mattresses vary in terms of the material. They can either be rubber, nylon, fiber or even cloth. All these materials make excellent mats. You however need to go for the material that gives long lasting and high-quality mats.

Rubber has for long proven to be the best material for cow mattresses. This explains why most of the mats available in the market are made of this incredible material. Different types of rubber are used to make cow barn floor mats. Settle for the highest quality rubber and you will have no regrets.

9. Mattress size

The size of mattress you choose will be dictated by your barn stalls. Some mats are small while others are huge. The small mat may be one foot squared while the large mats may be four meters squared.

The small mats are quite easy to install. They however curl up with time as they stiffen. This can be addressed by investing in interlocking cow mattresses. The large barn mattresses on the other hand are difficult to install. Their weight makes it difficult to install and may require a specialist’s input.

10. Thickness

Cow barn and stall mattresses ought to be considerably thick. The thickness should range between two centimetres and one inch. This makes the mats comfortable and impermeable. The urine thus won’t penetrate through the mats to soak the surface.

Thick stall mattresses are less likely to curl up. They are also long lasting and are less likely to move as the cow sleeps or stands up.

Best Cow Mattresses Reviewed

1. Best Interlocking Cow Barn Floor Mat

Prosource Fit Puzzle Interlocking Floor Mat

Prosource fit mats are non-skid durable mats that have proven to be very reliable in dairy farming. These mat tiles make it possible to convert any cow barn into a comfortable space for all types of cattle.

The ProSource fit mattresses are very popular in the gyms. They have been used for years to provide comfortable working out spaces. The same features that have made them win in the gym have attracted dairy farmers and the results are incredible.

Prosource fit mats easily rank among the best cow mattresses as they are not only comfortable and durable but are also easy to assemble. They can be assembled in a few minutes and taken apart when the need arises.

Product Specifications
  • Size: 24”x24”x0.5”
  • Weight: 4.41 pounds
  • Color: Black
  • Design: Interlocking
Product Features
  • Non-skid surface
  • Easy to assemble and disassemble
  • Long lasting and water resistant
  • Adjustable coverage
  • Versatile with numerous uses
  • Features six tiles with end borders
Outstanding Mattress Features

1. Long-Lasting Water-Resistant Cushion

The mats are made of high density foam. This foam is water resistant. It is thus comfortable on the cow’s knees and belly. It offers excellent cushioning as the cow sleeps. The fact that it is water resistant means that cow’s urine cannot penetrate to the surface.

This mat is designed to last long. It can be very costly changing cow mats every now and then. installing these mat gives you the peace of mind knowing that you have something that can keep your cow comfortable for a number of years.

2. Adjustable Coverage

The interlocking mat comes in twenty-four inch (24”) square tiles. The six tiles fit easily to make a considerably huge sleeping mat. You can play around with the tiles to get the desired coverage. normally, the design adopted will be dictated by the sleeping pen design.

Pros
  • High quality foam offers excellent comfort
  • No toxic phthalates
  • Offers good insulation
  • Not pleasant to the bugs
  • Easy to assemble
  • Easy to clean and maintain
Cons
  • Absence of tries at the bottom reduces traction
  • The tiles separate on rigorous cow movement especially when fighting for sleeping space

2. Best Non-Slip Barn Mat

Heming Weigh Non-Slip Extra-Long Thick Mat

Traction is very important in cow barns. Cows will only feel comfortable when they can walk on a mat without the fear of falling. You do not want to expose your cow to the risk of falling or sliding when moving.

The Heming weigh non-slip mat serves as the perfect piece to install in your stall. Just like the ProSource interlocking mat, this mat is also very popular in gyms and workout spaces. This however doesn’t stop one from using them in the barn. You will be amazed at how incredible these mats turn to be.

Product specifications
  • Size: 70”x23”
  • Weight: 2.6 pounds
  • Color: Black
Product Features
  • Superior material
  • Thick cushioning
  • Non slip surface
Prominent Product Features

1. Superior Material

This mat is made of long lasting material. This means that it will not wear down after a few months of use. The heavy duty mattress does not fray or rip thus remains in its original form for a long time.

2.Thick Foam Cushioning

Cushioning is very important in boosting cow comfort. This mat is very competitive in that it offers great cushioning. The thick foam keeps the cow comfortable all the time. This extends cow lying hours thus increased production. The thick cushion easily makes it the best cow mattress due to the superior joint comfort and support.

3. Non-Slip Surface

This is the most outstanding feature of the HemingWeigh mattress. The unique aspect is that both sides of the mattress are son-slip. This means that you can use either side.

The double-sided mattress brings in versatility and makes it for the farmer to install without worrying about the sides. The non-slip surface keeps cows safe as they walk, sleep and wake up.

Pros
  • Very resilient
  • Its thick and comfortable
  • Its long lasting
  • Easy to clean
  • Doesn’t fray or roll up
  • Its soft and sturdy
Cons
  • Has a strong odor
  • Slips when placed on smooth surface

3. Best Absorbent Cow Mattress

Airmatrix Polypropylene Universal Heavy Weight Absorbent Spill Control Laminated Pad

ESP Airmatrix absorbent pad is a high quality mattress that serves well in cattle barns. This mat has been used for some years and has proven to be very reliable. This is a high absorbent pad that is made from 85% recycled polypropylene.

The long lasting mat features single sided melt blown construction. It has no lint and can last several years with little maintenance. The single sided construction goes a long way in controlling slips. The underside is rough giving it ample grip.

Product Specifications
  • Size: 19.4”x16.1”x15.7”
  • Weight: 11 pounds
  • Color: Gray
Product Features
  • Minimal lint
  • Durable spun bond polypropylene dark gray layer
  • 85% sustainable/recyclable polypropylene
  • 2 sonically welded sorbent layers
  • No lint spunbond combined with high loft melt blown fibers
Outstanding Mattress Features

1. Durable Spun Bond Polypropylene Dark Gray Layer

Polypropylene is one of the best modern textiles used for manufacturing, upholstery and industrial applications. It is lightfast, soft and easy to clean. This makes it best suited for cattle mattress.

Polypropylene has incredible tensile strength. This means that it can withstand heavy weights. Cows aren’t light and having a mattress that can comfortably withstand their weight is an added advantage.

2. 85% Sustainable/Recyclable Polypropylene

Polypropylene being recyclable makes excellent mats that can be recycled once used. This explains why some of these mats are quite cheap. The material is environmental friendly as it doesn’t release toxics. The cows will thus be exposed to healthy mats.

Pros
  • High absorption capacity
  • They are affordable
  • Impart luxurious look
  • Highly resistant to stains
  • Easy to clean. May be cleaned with bleach
  • Hardly holds lousy odor
Cons
  • May be susceptible to UV degradation
  • Doesn’t absorb oil spills
  • They have low resilience

4. Best Anti-Fatigue Cow Mattress

Kangaroo Commercial Grade Anti Fatigue Ergonomic Floor Pad

Cows stand for a long time especially when eating. Some cows opt to relax or even sleep while standing. Such behavior demands that you install reliable anti-fatigue mattresses. Kangaroo commercial mats are ergonomic and engineered to offer the highest pressure relieve.

What is good for human is good for cows too and this mat has received lot of praise when it comes to relieving fatigue. The mats look great in the cow stalls and contrasts nicely with concrete floor.

The mat gives the cattle a soothing feel. This relieves them of the fatigue associated with long standing or sleeping hours. This reduces legs aching while feeding or milking. You may therefore use the mats in alleys, milking area or even the alleys.

Product Specifications
  • Size: 39”x 20” x 0.5 ”
  • Weight: 5.19 pounds
  • Color: Midnight black
  • Material: Leather
  • Pattern: Solid
Product Features
  • Thick cushion
  • Non-slip bottom
  • Beveled edge (with anti curl)
  • Cushioned comfort
  • Eco-friendly
Most Outstanding Features

1.Non-Slip Bottom

Its so painful to see your cow fall. This may result in serious injuries and may also instill fear and stress in the animal. No slip mats are vital in ensuring that the floor is safe for the cows at all times.

2. Beveled Edge

The beveled edge prevents tripping. As the cow walks, the edge of the mat may result in tripping. Eventually, the cow may end up falling especially in high traffic areas. Such instance should be avoided at all cost. The beveled edge goes a long way in preventing mat curl up thus reducing the chances of tripping.

Pros
  • Its easy to clean
  • Its well made and comfortable
  • Looks good in the stalls
  • Excellent quality that takes the strain off leg joints
Cons
  • Doesn’t allow folding as it leaves creases

Conclusion

Cow comfort plays a vital role in determining a cow’s production. A comfortable cow will produce more milk. As dairy cows graze in the fields, they look for the most comfortable points to rest and sleep. This may not be practical for zero-grazed dairy cows.

In a bid to make the zero grazing unit comfortable, its important that you consider installing comfortable bedding mats. There are different types and categories of mats that can be used for cow barns. The mats reviewed above and just but a few of the best cow mattresses. Invest in one of the best mats and you will indeed notice some improvement in cow comfort and production.

Effective Treatment Of Mastitis In Dairy Cattle

The treatment of mastitis in dairy cattle can take different dimensions. Treatment varies from the use of antibiotics to the treatment without antibiotics. The former is the commonly practiced curative method but a good number of farmers also use the latter.

The Use Of Antibiotics

To date, antibiotics remain to be the basis of numerous treatment regimes. They can be used in different ways to ensure that the farmer doesn’t incur losses. The applications include;

Intramammary Antibiotics

This is the first line treatment for cows with in-complicated mastitis in a single quarter. Intramammary delivery of an antibiotic into the mammary gland, by way of an intramammary infusion is the most effective method to use to treat; it is given the type of bacteria that is causing the infection.

Systemic Antibiotic

This should be used when more than a quarter is affected especially when the udder changes are marked or when the core is obviously ill. It is allowed under veterinary supervision. Their use is not recommended for mild or moderate clinical causes.

Clinical Mastitis Therapy

This treatment is required by ethical and animal welfare reasons. This treatment is well being of the diseased cow. It acts as  a supporting system for the body’s defenses, it kills the pathogens and in so doing reducing the elimination of bacteria. It is mainly determined by the status of all immunological body defenses.

Reduced Antibiotic Use In Cattle

Economical resource saving milk production provides the basic for sustained consumer acceptance. A combined intervention scheme may be adopted to reduce the need for antibiotic treatments in dairy cattle farms. This should be based on timely and thorough clinical inspections as well as  assessment of animal-based welfare. Its important to note that environmental adaptation of dairy cows defines the risk of animals contracting diseases.

Treating Mastitis Without Antibiotics

1. Treatment Of Mastitis Through Location Therapy

Treatment of mastitis should be based on bacteriological diagnosis and take national and international guidelines, treatment should also be initiated based on herd data and personal experience through using aloe Vera.

Culture And Sample

It is necessary that a culture should be taken and either processed in the on-farm lab  or sent to an off-farm facility. Sampling should be done regularly with a keen interest of establishing the risk and extent of mastitis infection.

Take a Sample Before Any Cow Is Treated

Use an on-farm culture system or send it to your veterinarian. If you don’t have access to timely culture to treat all animals affected by mastitis, at least now you can have a sample to culture to find the culprit before you try to treat her again.

2. Massaging the teats

Massaging of the teats should commence immediately some hard spots start to form in cow teats. This is best practiced by farmers who milk their animals by hand. When using milking machines, you will need more advanced technology to determine when massaging needs to kick off.

Massaging the teats clears the clogs which are caused by milk curds in the teats. The massaging can be a little painful and the cow needs to be secured in place. Some will kick while others will try to free and run away.

3.      Warm compress

The secret behind fighting mastitis in cattle is ensuring that you eradicate the hardness in teats. Warm compress which involves placing heat on the affected teats encourages milk to flow.

The compress is a little friendly to the cow. They enjoy the soothing massage thus forgetting the pain for a moment.

4.      Expressing or nursing

Treatment of mastitis demands getting out as much milk from the teats as possible. This means that you need to increase the milking sessions. Here, you won’t be actually milking but expressing.

If you have nursing calves, you can let them suckle even more. The milk at this stage cannot be sold thus no loss in letting the calves suckle. The milk is safe for the calves unless it has a foul smell or a green coloring.

It’s important to note that there is some discharge that will be noted at the beginning of the expressing process. This is normal and shouldn’t raise any alarm.

5.      Immune boosting

Boosting the cow’s immune system may not necessarily cure mastitis. However, it is essential in helping the animal fight the pathogen and prevent other attacks. An animal whose body has sufficient vitamin C and probiotics has a higher chance of fighting mastitis in a short time.

6.      Using essential oils

Essential oils such as oregano, tea tree and peppermint are very effective in the treatment of mastitis. The essential oils have been used successfully in treatment of mastitis in human beings and can also be used in cattle. You may also use creams that contain these essential oils in treatment for mastitis in dairy cattle.

The cream or essential oil may be rubbed on the udder after every milking. The oil soothes the teats and udder and takes away the heat that is associated with mastitis. The cow can then feel relieved for a moment and experience less stress.

Conclusion

Prevention is better than cure. However, you can never be too sure that you have sealed all the loopholes especially when it comes to diseases. When infections such as mastitis strike, you have no alternative but to seek ways to eradicate them.

Mastitis in dairy cattle results in huge losses and affects a cow’s productivity. It therefore needs to be tackled head-on. There are tried and tested antibiotics that can be used to treat mastitis. With time, the mastitis bacteria animals’ bodies develop resistance towards these antibiotics. This makes it difficult to treat the animals using antibiotics.

Consequently, the farmer is force to either cull the animals or seek alternative mastitis treatment methods. This includes treatment of mastitis without antibiotics. Pointers above are some of the effective ways of treating mastitis without antibiotics.

We hope that the pointers will serve as an eye opener and help you control and eventually eradicate mastitis in your dairy farm. Just ensure that you engage your veterinary before embarking on any of the treatment methods. Their advice and guidance are invaluable and cannot be overlooked.

 

Mastitis In Cows Natural Treatment Without Antibiotics

Mastitis is not only one of the common dairy cow diseases but is also the most costly dairy cow disease. Mastitis accounts for over a billion dollars in dairy farms losses annually. In proves to be a major challenge to both conventional and organic dairy farm.

Mastitis can either be chronic, clinical or subclinical. Regardless of the form, mastitis needs to be treated. There are several procedures used to treat mastitis. Some of the most effective treatments for mastitis are the natural remedies.

What Is The Effective Mastitis In Cows Treatment?

Cows, just like human beings, have an immune system. This immune system is equipped to eliminate infections. This is the natural way of keeping the cow clean and healthy. The immune system has its challenges. When weakened, it will be infiltrated by numerous diseases and mastitis is one of such diseases.

A cow’s immune system cannot prevent all mastitis cases. When mastitis affects your dairy cows, you need to seek effective mastitis in cows natural treatment. These are mastitis treatment remedies that do not involve the use of antibiotics. Some of the renowned natural treatment for mastitis include; antioxidants, homeopathy, biologics such as cell extracts and antisera, vitamins and minerals, conventional fluid and aspirin, herbs (aloe, tinctures and garlic) and topical (essential oils).

Homeopathy Treatment For Mastitis In Dairy Cows

Homeopathy and homeopathic treatment remedies have gained popularity across the globe as mastitis in cows natural treatment. These remedies are considered to be cheap, easy to use and tend to be very effective. Research has shown that homeopathy makes cows happy. The happier the cow I, the more productive she will be.

Effectiveness Of Homeopathy For Treatment Of Mastitis In Cows

Homeopathy as a treatment for mastitis in dairy cows is said to have originated in Western Europe. The scientists based this treatment on the law of similar. This is a law that stipulates that like treats like. In this case, they were using the natural remedies used to treat mastitis in human beings to formulate treatment for mastitis in dairy cows.

Treatment For Bovine Mastitis

Homeopathy has been used to treat different types of mastitis. One of the types of mastitis that homeopathy has shown great success is bovine mastitis. This is the inflammation of the udder tissues and mammary glands. Bovine mastitis is caused by microorganism infection or trauma.

 

Bovine mastitis is caused by E.coli, streptococci, corynebacteri pyrogens or staphylococci. It may also be caused by chemicals, thermal or mechanical injury. It may be transmitted through contact with milking machines, bedding, housing or contaminated hands.

A study that was conducted by R. Naresh and J.P Varshney on the efficacy of homoepathic medicine combination on mastitis showed 86.6% success with a mean recovery of 7.7 days.

Antioxidant Treatment For Mastitis

Mastitis in dairy cattle releases free radicals in milk. This results from an imbalance between antioxidants and oxidants. This is referred to as oxidative stress. In such instances, the level of oxidants exceeds antioxidant defense capacity.

The oxidative stress results in oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and DNA. Milk with a high Somatic Cell Count (SCC) is linked with malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in dairy milk. The MDA levels are higher in milk from cows infected with subclinical mastitis. This means higher oxidative stress levels.

Role Of Antioxidants In Treatment Of Mastitis

Cells normally contain antioxidants that control the release of ROS in tissues and the blood. The antioxidants protect the cow’s body from free radicals by scavenging on the free radicals or inhibiting oxidizing enzyme activity.

Aerobic organisms are adapted to fight against oxidative stress. This adaptation originates from the exposure to oxidants and dependence of molecular oxygen. The evolution of advanced cellular defense strategies has significantly increased the lifespan of individual species.

Cellular defense mechanism may be categorized into three depending on their functions of removing/repairing oxidative damage, quenching oxidants and encapsulating non repairable damage.

The cell is equipped with an antioxidant network that acts as the first level of oxidants defense. Antioxidants are known to donate electrons to oxidants to quench their reactivity. This makes them harmless. The second defense involves repair and removal of damaged and oxidized molecules. Finally comes the third and final stage that involves apoptosis or controlled cell suicide.

The antioxidant vitamins that are used as mastitis in cows natural treatment include; vitamin C(VC), Vitamin A (VA), Vitamin E (VE), β-carotene (BC). Antioxidant minerals include; Zinc (Zn), selenium (Se) and Copper (Cu).

The use of antioxidants in treatment for mastitis in dairy cattle has shown great success. It however needs to be done under the watchful eyes of a veterinary. Before administering the antioxidant minerals or vitamins it’s important that you subject the current feeds and rations to evaluation tests. It’s worth noting that the intake of some nutrients may weaken a cow’s immunity and increase the incidence of mastitis.

Topical Essential Oils Mastitis Treatment

Topical essential oils are known to be reliable remedies for mastitis infection. These are oils extracted from oregano, tea tree and peppermint. The oils are applied to the teats and udder. The ointment is applied to the exterior of the teats.

A number of pre-made creams made with essential oils may be used to treat mastitis. These are commercially available and go a long way in treating mastitis. They may be rubbed on the teats and udder after every milking. Massage the teats softly to ensure that the cow is exposed to the least pain.

Excellent results will be achieved when the affected quarters are stripped out. Stripping out milk starves mastitis bacteria thus ensuring that the bacteria don’t multiply.

Herbal Mastitis Treatment

A number of herbs have been used to successfully treat mastitis. Herbs are among the reliable mastitis in cows natural treatment techniques that have been used for decades. Some of the herbs that have been used for some time include;

Aloe

Aloe has numerous medicinal benefits. It has successfully been used to treat human as well and cattle diseases. Aloe is used in liquid or ointment form to treat cows infected with mastitis. The ointment is applied on the affected udder quarters and teats. The liquid on the other hand is administered orally.

For effective treatment of mastitis using aloe, administer 300cc in two doses every other day for three days. This dose acts as immune boosters enabling the cow get rid of the mastitis bacteria.

Garlic Tinctures

These tinctures are quite effective in getting rid of the mastitis bacterium in dairy cows. Veterinaries recommend the use of 3 cc doses. The doses should be administered twice every day. The mode of administration should be through the cow’s vulva.

Administration of drugs through the vulva can irritate your animal. To avoid such irritation, use a syringe fitted with plastic tubing.

Other Mastitis In Cows Natural Treatment

Natural remedies for mastitis in dairy cows are quite many. The remedies vary from one location to the other. These remedies are very popular in Asia and parts of South America. In addition to the above natural remedies, there are some remedies that have also proven to be successful in the eradication of mastitis in cattle. These remedies include;

  • Dried kelp meal. This is a natural remedy that can be administered once a day. Every doze should contain 2 oz of the meal. The dry kelp meal helps boost the cow’s immunity thus enhancing the fight against mastitis bacteria.
  • Pasteurized whey. This is a natural mastitis treatment that was popular some decades ago. The whey is administered orally or sub-q at the tail end. A single dose of 30 cc should be given for three days.

Conclusion

Mastitis is the most common disease in dairy cows. This is an udder infection that is not only stubborn to treat but also results in huge losses. A dairy farm can only be profitable if it has effective ways or controlling, treating and eradicating mastitis.

Mastitis in cows natural treatment is one of the most effective ways of treating mastitis. We may not have exhausted all natural remedies that may help you eradicate mastitis in your home but these options will deliver great results.

Try any of the above treatment options and boost your dairy farm productivity and profitability.

Effective Cow Mastitis Treatment Today

Mastitis remains to be one of the major setbacks dairy farmers have to deal with every other day. It’s so cunning that it will strike just when you thought you are about to hit your targets. This is not only frustrating but has seen many farmers give up on dairy farming.

Scientists have gone out of the way to get treatment for mastitis that will help you maintain a healthy herd. Let’s walk through some of the proven cow mastitis treatment techniques.

Mastitis Treatment Using Antibiotics

The use of antibiotics as a treatment for mastitis has been a subject of debate for years. Antibiotics are commonly used to treat clinical antibiotics. This is the type of mastitis that is notorious for resurgence. This not only demoralizes the farmer but also results in huge losses.

Over the years, pressure has been mounting on the dairy industry to reduce antimicrobial use. This is a step in the right direction but the truth of the matter is that antibiotics remain to be the most reliable treatment for clinical mastitis at the moment.

Mastitis will manifest in different cows differently. This being the case, bacteriological diagnosis is advised for every cow. This helps in advising the right treatment decision. In addition to this, there are treatment guidelines that guide veterinary procedures ensuring that the right procedure is followed. Here are some of the measures that have been found to be reliable.

Types Of Antibiotics Used For Mastitis Treatment

Treatment for mastitis using antibiotics has been embraced across the United States. The intramammary antibiotics in use are labeled for treatment of staphylococci and streptococci mastitis. There is however no antibiotics approved to be used for treatment of Klebsiliella (pathogen causing clinical mastitis.

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -have approved two antimicrobial classes for commercial use. These are lincosamide (pirlimycin) and β-lactams (ceftiofur, cloxicillin, penicillin, amoxicillin, cephapirin and hetacillin).

It’s important to note that no intramammary antibiotics have received approval since 2006. Moreover, there are no antimicrobials labeled for systematic cow mastitis treatment today in the United States. Extralabel antibiotics can only be used under veterinary supervision. Some of those in use are systematic antibiotics used to treat severe mastitis in cows. These are cows considered to have septicemia (bacteria in blood).

Systematic use of antibiotics such as ceftiofur(Naxcel®,Excenel®) penicillin or ampicillin(Poluflex®)should be limited not to reach therapeutic concentrations in cows’ udder. This is because most are administered based on observation and the margin of error is huge.

Understanding Labeled Antibiotics

Dairy farm can be a little complicated, especially when it has anything to do with drugs. Not every drug will be permitted in these farms. Over the counter drugs can only be used exactly as the labels and doses specify. Deviation from the labels will not treat effectively. Moreover, these drugs cannot be purchased without a veterinary’s prescription.

In cases where labeled drugs are used contrary to the label, a veterinary extra label will be needed. Veterinaries are quite vital in the mastitis treatment process. In the use of flunixin to control acute bovine mastitis, 1-2ml/100lb via IV administration the indicated milk and meat withholding is enough. This is subject to change if the label is not adhered to.

Though the use of extra label is acceptable, it’s not legal. It can only be legalized by the involvement of a veterinary officer who meets set criteria. The Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database (FARAD) is a good resource on matters labels and extra labels.

The subject of extra labels gets murky when it comes to adult dairy cows. While extra labels may be used on some drugs, they cannot be used on sulfonamides used on adult dairy cows. Actually, the sulfadimethoxine (sulfonamide for adult dairy cows) has a label stating that it can only be used for treatment of calf diphtheria, necrotic pod dermatitis (foot rot) and bovine respiratory disease. It is thus prohibited to use it for mastitis in cows treatment.

Responsible Mastitis Treatment Antibiotics Guidelines

Train farmers how to detect mastitis in dairy cows. This is done through collection of milk samples. The samples are used to give the basic diagnosis (gram negative, gram positive or no growth). This helps settle on the right antibiotics or therapy. Culturing can be done in farms with animals found to have mild of moderate infections being isolated and milk discarded for 24 hours.

Treatment should be administered after reviewing the animal’s history. This aids in determining the chances of therapeutic success. Cows in the third or higher lactation have a higher chance of having clinical mastitis history. Treatment of such animals ought to be based on culture results. In some cases, culling, drying off, isolation or extended therapy may serve as treatment for mastitis.

Extended duration therapy as a treatment for mastitis should be reversed in cases that will improve performance. This treatment is effective of first infections and may not treat repeat cases of clinical mastitis.

Antibiotics treatment for mastitis should only be used on animals with pathogens likely to resists other treatment techniques.

Antibiotics treatment for mild E. coli mastitis is only advised if chronic strains have been found. Otherwise, therapy should take preference.

Monitor treatment results. This includes the rate of recurrence and SCC reduction.

Treatment Of Mastitis Without Antibiotics

Curative Measures

There are different curative measures used by veterinary to treat mastitis. We will however focus on the measures used to treat clinical and chronic mastitis. These curative methods are alternatives to antibiotics. They include clay therapy, homeopathy, phytotherapy and oxygen therapy among others.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy, an alternative medicine system, dates back in 1796. It was created by Samuel Hahnemann based on the ‘like cures like’ doctrine with the claim that a substance causing disease symptoms in sick people could cure sick people with similar symptoms. The same concept applies in animals.

Prevention Of Mastitis In Dairy Cows

Homeopathic Treatment

Prevention homeopathic treatment does not focus on a single animal. It is meant for the entire herd. Normally, nosodes (fragments of pathogenic cells) are administered to boost immunity.

The veterinary conducts research on the bacteria causing mastitis in the dairy cows and established the right nosode for the specific herd. The nosode is then administered to the herd according to scientific recommendations. In most cases 30 dilutions will be recommended but it is important that you follow veterinary advice.

Complexes

When mastitis strikes, you need to go beyond the nosodes. Here, a number of homeopathic remedies will be combined to combat the mastitis bacteria. Some of the combinations that have proved to be effective for mammary gland afflictions include: Bryonia and Urtica Urens, Belladonna; Sulphur, Phytolacca, Carbo Vegetabilis and Silicea.

The complexes are easy to use and will heal up to three out of four mastitis cases. They are however not recommended for animals kept for many years as the complexes tend to confuse their immune system exposing them to more attacks.

Administration

Homeopathic treatment for mastitis is administered through the cow’s mucous membrane. It’s important to note that it will be less effective if the infection was as a result of injury to the udder or teat.

Specific Treatment

Specific homeopathic treatment is recommended for symptoms such as edema type, lumpy milk among others. Specific treatment was popular with MacLeod and France’s Quiquandon.

Remedies By Macleod
Homeopathic Remedy Symptoms Dose
Aconitum 6x Acute mastitis infections. Cases that develop rapidly with exposure to cold dry wind. Relieves anxiety and tension. 6 (1 in every 30 minutes)
Arnica Montana 30c Mastitis resulting from teat and udder injuries. Presence of blood in secretions. 9 (3 every day)

 

Apis Mellifica 6 c Edema around the udder. Swollen mammary vein. First calving. 4 (1 in every 3 hours)
Belladonna Acute postpartum mastitis. Red and hot udder. Severe pain. Hot animal body. Quick and strong pulse. 4 ( 1 in every hour)
Bryonia Alba 30 c Swollen hard udder. Mild pain when pressed. Increased lying duration. Chronic cases with fibroids. 4 (1 in every 4 hours)-Acute

8 (2 times a week for 1 month)-Chronic

Belia Perennis 6 c Deep udder injuries. Blood in secretion. 12 (3 doses per day for 4 days)
Hepar Sulhuris 6 x Sumer mastitis. Aids in udder cleaning. 4 (1 in every 3 hours)
Ipeca 30 c Internal bleeding. Pink or bloody milk. 9 (3 per day for 3 days)
Phytolacca 30 c Chronic and clinical mastitis. Sour coagulated milk. Clots at mid lactation. 9 ( 3 per day for 3 days)
Silicea 200 c Summer mastitis. Purulent abscess 8 (2 a week for 4 weeks)
S.S.C 30 c Clinical and subclinical mastitis. Big lumps and yellowish milk. 9 (3 per day for 3 days)
Urtica Ulens 6x Edema forms plaques in clinical cases. 4 ( 1 every hour)

 

Homeopathic cow mastitis treatment by Quiquandon
Remedies Symptoms
Belladonna Hot and red mammary gland. Painful to touch. Prostrate animal. High fever.
Bryonia Acute mastitis. Hot pale and hard gland. Immobility. Relief under high pressure.
Plambum Iodanum 5 CH +Conium Maculatum Chronic mastitis. Marker glandular indurations. Mild pain to the touch. Hypertrophy and atrophy.
Phytolacca and Conium Hard nodes or quarters. Retro mammary ganglia. Painful when touched. Cracking teats.
Belladonna 5CH + Lachesis 5 CH Tissue infiltration. Violet mammary gland. Prostrate animal.
Carbolicum acidum 5 CH +Lachesis 5 CH Gangrenous mastitis
Silicea Pus secretion
Vipera Reddi Acute inflammation. Edema presence. Gangrenous tendency. Cold quarter. Swollen veins. Severe pain when touched. Quick pulse and weak heart.

 

Clay Therapy

Clay is known to have therapeutic properties. Due to its high absorbency, it has become popular in dressing cows infected with mastitis. For effective mastitis in cows’ treatment, the clay is mixed with olive oil or water. Olive oil proves to be the best option as it gives the mixture an elastic consistency.

When using olive oil, make a point of mixing the oil thoroughly. On the other hand, water needs no mixing. Leave it to sip slowly into the soil. Cover with a cloth and set in the sun. In either process, use a wooden spoon and a non-reactive container.

To increase the therapeutic effect, add 2-3 drops of thyme or pine oil in every two litres of the mixture. The mixture can then be applied gently on the teats and udder.

Preferably, spread the clay mixture on the parts affected by mastitis after milking. During the day, the clay tends to dry and should be replaced 2-3 times. No replacement is needed throughout the night.

Healing Signs

The treatment for mastitis will be said to have worked when the teats stay oily after the dry oil-clay mixture has been removed. In acute mastitis, the results will be seen after 4-6 hours. In chronic mastitis, treatment will take two to three days. If healing signs aren’t seen, seek alternative mastitis treatment.

Phytotherapy

This is the use of plant-derived remedies in the prevention and treatment of diseases. It is a science based medical practice that has proved to be reliable in the treatment of mastitis.

Juliette De Bairacli-Levy Method

This is a method that treats mastitis in one or two weeks. It is effective in small herds and may not be practical in huge dairy farms. This method has proven to be very reliable in the treatment of clinical mastitis.

In this method, herbs such as wood sage, garlic and teucrium scorodonia are used. The wood sage is very effective on mammary gland treatment.

How The Method Works
  • Confine affected animals in airy quarters
  • Fast the animal for two days. Only provide drinking water.
  • Ensure that the animal doesn’t feed on bedding sacks. Avoid lying down on cold cement.
  • Administer a single dose of wood sage tea every fasting morning. The tea is prepared by mixing two handfuls of the finely cut herbs, two teaspoons honey and one and a half litre of water.
  • Administer 1 dose of senna-based laxative every fasting night. Prepare this by soaking 20 senna cloves in cold water (half litre) for 6 hours. Add ground ginger (1 teaspoon).
  • After fasting, administer a mixture of warm water (1/2 ltr), milk (2ltr) and molasses (10 tablespoons). Provide wood sage (finely cut) mixed with molasses and bran.
  • At mid-day and evening of the third day, administer a mixture of garlic cloves (6-8) grated in water (1ltr).
  • In the following days, provide softened sweet hay (2/3 gallons) mixed with bran (1kg) and molasses (10tablespoons).
  • Provide two handfuls of Greanium robertianum, raspberry leaves or Artemisia atrotanum.
  • If the treatment is successful, the cow’s temperature will return to normal and it can be left to graze normally.

Aloe

Aloe is popular for its medicinal value. When it comes to mastitis treatment in dairy cows, aloe is used in udder treatment. It’s mainly used when the udder has injuries leading to staphylococcal mastitis. The aloe is applied in its raw form and it works magic.

For effective treatment for mastitis, you will also need to inject the affected quarter with aloe syrup. It is recommended that you use 20-60 cc of aloe in its juice form at least once every day. It’s important to note that the teat needs to be sterilized before injecting the aloe. The aloe in its natural form brings all the filth that may aggravate the situation in absence of sterilization.

Aloe works by draining the infection. It also has anti inflammatory properties and will also work as a coagulant. In cases of hardened teats and udders, the diuretic property will come in handy in the softening process.

Remember to isolate the milk collected from dairy cows under treatment. Its only safe after the treatment is over.

Kelp

Kelp is one of the few plants whose success in treatment for mastitis has scientific backing. Its rather preventive than curative making it even better. It not only contains a high amount of minerals but also has an effect on a wide range of bacteria.

Mastitis Ointment Biodynamic

The kelp ointment is made from marigold flowers and lard. Here is the step by step guide on how to prepare the kelp ointment.

  • In your double boiler, melt 2 kilograms of lard
  • Add dried marigold flowers (Calendula officinalis) – Two handfuls
  • Heat the mixture for thirty (30) minutes
  • Filter using cheesecloth. Checkout some of the best cheesecloth here
  • Pour in containers (1 ltr) and let cool

NB: For high quality ointment, here’s how to extract your marigold. Fill a jar with 50-100 ml of dried marigold flowers, cover it with ethylacetate. The ethylacetate is in solid forms in drug stores. Seal the container. The ethylacetate evaporates quickly leaving high quality marigold extract.

Dressings

Dressings were popular in the 19th century for the treatment of clinical mastitis. Some of the practices included;

  • Application of warm compresses. This was meant to reduce inflammation. The compresses were followed by tea leaves, hop meal or bran and would be repeated often. The best way to do this is having a T-shaped net (cheesecloth) which goes between the hind limbs and is tied to hold the cataplasm on the udder.
  • Ointment or extract from Belladonna. The extract was rubbed on the udder, affected quarter, to reduce pain. It also aided in the secretion of the mammitic milk.
  • Oil and molasses. These were used to treat constipation and fever associated with clinical mastitis.

Oxygen Therapy

You may have heard about oxygen therapy as a cure for diseases in plants. Well, its also used in animals. In dairy cows, its mainly used in treatment of mastitis. Known as ‘the cure for all diseases’, oxygen therapy is very essential in treatment for mastitis.

Oxygen therapy involves the use of hydrogen peroxide. The Koch treatment, invented by Dr. William Fredrick Koch, uses glyoxilide as its treatment base. This has similar properties as peroxide and proves to be effective.

Glyoxilide is found in solid form and is provided in 5 cc ampoules doses. This dose is injected into the dairy cow’s shoulder or neck muscles using a hypodermic needle. A single dose/treatment is enough to treat mastitis.

After injection, Glyoxilide provokes reactions in cows that will be seen in 21 day cycles and fade with time. The treatment will be effective for 1-2 years.

Other Effective Cow Mastitis Treatment Techniques

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through the skin to strategic points. In treatment for mastitis, it’s used to reduce pain. It has been found to be very effective but takes very long making it less popular. There are also few experts in this therapy and getting one may be challenging.

Natural Method

This is a rapid treatment that involves leaving the calf to suckle an infected cow vigorously. The calf is directed to focus on the infected quarters. Though effective, the calves may act as a vector of the mastitis bacteria in the herd or even infecting the other healthy quarters.

Antibodies

There are products made with antibodies. These include colostrums and are readily available from homeopathic veterinarians. Intra muscular injections are used to administer the antibodies. The mastitis bacteria will be flushed out in less than 12 hours. This avoids milk loss in affected dairy cows.

Conclusion

Mastitis manifests in different forms in different cows. Cows will also react differently to mastitis in cows treatment. This being the case, there is no treatment that can be said to be one size fits all when it comes to treatment for mastitis.

It calls for you as the farmer to identify the specific mastitis bacteria, the type of mastitis and the extent of infection to determine the treatment that will be effective.

We hope that the different techniques for treatment of mastitis discussed here will shed some light in the quest for a long lasting solution. Remember to consult your vet to get guidance on whether to use mastitis treatment antibiotics or treat mastitis without antibiotics.

Veterinary advice is very important in making crucial decisions in dairy farming. You can visit this post to learn more about signs, detection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mastitis in dairy cows. This might just be the beginning to the end of the fight/struggle with mastitis in your farm.