Figure 2.1
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PRODUCTSThis lotion product comes in 300mL bottles (blue and white in colour) with a convenient shaped bottle that allows farmers to hang on milking lines during application or storage retailed at $22.95 (order 24 or more for $20.95 each). There are also other sprayable lotion applications (in yellow and blue colour) that are sold in 500mL bottles retailed at $37.49 (order 12 or more for $33.49 each). Additionally, the sprayable lotions come in various bulk refill quantities (Udder Comfort, 2015). PRODUCT USE AND CONTRIBUTION TO HEALTH Udder health is crucial to the health and production of a mammary system and housing animals with udder health issues becomes costly. Maintaining good udder condition alongside rigorous parlor hygiene is one of the simplest things that can be done at farm level to reduce the impact of mastitis on herd profitability. Mastitis remains a major cause of financial loss for the UK Dairy Industry costing £144 million each year. This loss comes from direct costs such as treatment costs, but also indirect costs such as reduced yields, discarded milk, and fertility problems. Mastitis is also a serious welfare issue on Dairy Farms” (Dairy Direct, 2011). The use of Udder Comfort would help save money on input costs required for dairy health and ultimately the cost of unnecessary disease treatments. Minimizing the rate of disease will help aid in a greater milk production. However, there are certain things to consider if disease prevention is not being considered within a herd. This would include somatic cell count (SCC). The effect of subclinical mastitis is shown in the SCC at the individual cow level and ultimately in the bulk tank. The SCC of cows infected with subclinical mastitis rises as the cows immune system sends white blood cells to the udder to fight off mastitis pathogens. Figure 2.2 shows the production loss associated with subclinical Mastitis on a Dairy farm. As seen above, production loss is a costly event and undesirable for any herd. Higher bulk tank SCC levels are not considered desirable by most milk purchasers as high SCC reduces quality and yield of dairy products (such as cheese). Controlling subclinical mastitis and producing lower SCC milk, therefore represents a potential profit opportunity associated with both increased production and increased milk price. Persistent long-term infections with contagious pathogens damage milk secretory cells and result in reduced milk production (Pamela Ruegg, 2012). This is important to keep in mind, as Udder Comfort is a healthy way to soften and sooth any mammary imperfections that may contribute to the build up of Mastitis and prevent the ultimate loss of production for Nepalese farmers. |