In support of CellCheck, the national mastitis control programme, Prime Health Vets is holding a seminar for farmers at Cork Mart on Thursday, 10th October, ‘To cull, or to treat?’, to raise awareness on how to improve mastitis control.

The average dairy farmer can improve net profitability by at least 1 cent per litre by improving mastitis control to reduce somatic cell counts (SCC), according to a recent Teagasc study. High SCC, an indicator of mastitis, has a major impact on dairy farm profitability.

The main speaker is Finola McCoy, national director of the CellCheck programme, run by Animal Health Ireland. Ms McCoy will speak about what farmers need to do before drying off cows and will also explain how to choose which cows to keep and which cows to cull etc.

Ríona Sayers, a researcher with Teagasc based at Moorepark, will also speak at the seminar on practical dosing of cows at drying off and dosing young stock at housing.

Paul Redmond, chairman of Prime Health Vets says there is a growing interest among famers for more knowledge on how to improve herd management.

“The future change in milk quotas is on farmers’ minds and they know that if they want to expand, they have to cut down health risks, including mastitis. We support the CellCheck programme and are keen to play our part in sharing knowledge and best practice with farmer clients.”

Tickets for the seminar are €10 with all proceeds for Pieta House’s rural suicide intervention campaign. Tickets locally are available from Blackwater Veterinary Clinic, Mallow (022-22340), Cashman & O’Driscoll, Riverstown Cross, Glanmire (021-4821243), Duntahane Veterinary Clinic, Fermoy (025-33060), O’Brien & Noonan, Fermoy (025-31870) and The Veterinary Centre, 15 Beechers Street, Mallow (022-21258).