A simple-to-use tester that takes just five seconds per quarter gives immediate indication of the presence of bacterial infection – sub-clinical mastitis – long before clinical symptoms are evident.
The ’MAS-D-TEC’ eliminates guesswork, costly and time-consuming laboratory testing and is easy to use. Industry estimates indicate that annual savings can amount to an average of £100 per cow, even for small herds, so the purchase cost is paid for many times over.
MAS-D-TEC, which is now one of the biggest selling mastitis detectors in the world, works on milk conductivity, the same process incorporated into robot milkers.
In the USA, research has shown that, at any one time, 50% of cows have mastitis. Many of these are at the sub-clinical stage, show no symptoms and therefore do not get treated. Changes in milk conductivity is a very reliable indicator of mastitis and can also act as an early warning of sub-clinical infection before full mastitis develops, so that immediate remedial action can be taken. This effectively increases the average milk yield per cow and raises overall milk quality – and profits.
MAS-D-TEC is exceptionally easy to use. A small sample of milk – two millilitres is adequate - is squirted into the funnel top. The operator pushes a button and, within two seconds, the milk conductivity is analysed and indicated on the graphic scale. The milk drains through the MAS-D-TEC as the readings are taking place.
There is no need for the milk to be tipped out or to wash the MAS-D-TEC between quarters or cows - simply continue to the next quarter and add more milk for testing. The instrument detects the new sample and provides a new reading. When milking or testing is completed, simply wash under a tap.
Readings range from 0 to 9, with readings of over 5 in the red zone being abnormal, indicating sub-clinical mastitis in that particular quarter. If one quarter reads two points higher than the other quarters, this also indicates sub-clinical infection.
"Compare this to the laborious system of sending samples to the lab for testing," says KiwiKit Director Kim Petty, himself a dairy farmer in Pembrokeshire. "This is much more effective, enabling farmers to do an immediate comparison of quarters. MAS-D-TEC is an essential tool to good herd management."
The instrument is very rugged, with all of the electronics encased in a strong, water-resistant case for long and dependable service. It is hand-held, standard 9-volt alkaline battery operated and around four thousand samples can be tested before the battery needs changing.
MAS-D-TEC can be used strategically to find problem cows when bulk milk cell counts are rising and to detect cows that have cell counts in the millions but giving milk with a perfectly good appearance. Often the only way to find these cows is by testing the whole herd. With MAS-D-TEC it is perfectly possible to do this as part of the routine during milking.
