Content related to the sectors: dairy

18 February 2021

Controlling environmental mastitis in dairy cows by improving cow flow

Good stockmanship is key to moving cows quickly and quietly around the farm. It is also key to reducing and controlling environmental mastitis.

18 February 2021

Environmental mastitis: Parlour cow flow and milking

Good stockmanship to move cows around the farm as well as cow handling in the parlour are essential to ensure environmental bacteria do not enter the udder via the teat canal.

8 September 2026

Monitoring dairy calf growth

Measuring youngstock growth rates provides useful information about how well they are growing.

5 August 2026

Achieving calf growth rates

Calculating energy requirements for dairy calves

27 August 2026

Dairy calf growth rates

How to keep tabs on calf growth rates and access a simple calculator that tells you how much milk replacer to feed.

20 August 2025

GB Dairy Calf Strategy 2020-2023: Guidance

Guidance for farmers who are exploring options to rear and market dairy bred calves.

18 February 2021

Controlling environmental mastitis in dairy cows at pasture

Time at pasture poses a considerable risk for clinical mastitis and increased somatic cell counts for many dairy herds, due to exposure to different bacterial pathogens and variable environmental conditions. Our top tips will help you manage the risk of mastitis in the contamination hotspots.

8 June 2021

Loose yard management to control environmental mastitis in dairy cows

The risk of mastitis infections from the environment in lactation is higher in loose yards than when cows are housed in cubicles. To control environmental sources of mastitis, it is important to maintain low levels of bacteria near the teats and teat ends.

20 March 2026

Dairy cow cubicle housing design to control environmental mastitis in lactation

Well-managed cubicles give a lower incidence of mastitis infections in lactation compared with loose yard systems, in general, but cubicles must be appropriate to the size of the cows in the herd.

8 June 2021

Dairy cow bedding management to control environmental mastitis during lactation

When cows lie down, teats and teat ends will come into close contact with the bacteria in the bedding. Our top tips for bedding compare the different bedding types and advise how best to store them.

19 February 2021

Dairy cow housing design to prevent environmental mastitis during lactation

Housing designed with the cow in mind is important, to reduce environmental risks for mastitis. Fundamental issues with building design, ventilation and stocking rate can often mean new infection rates remain high, particularly in higher-yielding herds.

18 February 2021

Environmental mastitis: The housed dairy cow

The best way to control environmental mastitis is to minimise the number of bacteria that can cause mastitis at the teat end. It is important to keep cows clean and dry because infection can happen at any time between and during milkings.