Udder Test Sheets Detect Mastitis Early

Udder Test Sheets Detect Mastitis Early DAIRY EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Dairy Equipment & Ideas 22-1-4 You can detect mastitis three to five days earlier than you can with conventional chemical testing methods with these new "litmus"-type udder test sheets developed in Germany. Four inches wide by 5 in. long, the test sheets read out in different colors to indicate the severity of the infection, says Bob Smale, North American distributor. To use, you wash the udder and strip out the first milk, applying one drop of fresh milk from each quarter of the udder to each of the four indicator dots on the test paper. In seconds, the dots change color indicating "normal" or presence of mastitis depending on the color. "Because the papers read the beginning of a change - at the earliest stages of mastitis - it's easy to react to the problem before it becomes serious," Smale notes. "This translates to earlier detection, earlier treatment, reduced severity, and earlier return to full production." A "zip lock" package of 20 sheets (which fits easily in a shirt pocket) sells for $7.50 (Canadian), $5.40 (U.S.). Multi-packs are available. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, W.H. Smale Co. Ltd., 4583 Putnam Road, R.R. 2, Mossley, Ontario, Canada N0L 1V0 (ph 519 269-3754; fax 3795).

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