Research on and implementation of "on-practice culture" as a basis for more rational and reduced antibiotic usage and better economic results on Flemish dairy herds

Mastitis remains and important disease on Belgian dairy herds. Both subclinical and clinical mastitis result in concerns for dairy producers. At the same time, they are increasingly being asked to adopt a more responsible attitude by, among other things, paying more attention to sustainability (including using antibiotics less often and with better substantiation) and animal welfare. Clinical mastitis in their dairy cows threatens both: it leads to (mass) use of antibiotics and to welfare problems in the affected animals, which also have to be culled even faster than expected. There are still major steps to be taken in the field of mastitis prevention.

Introducing selective treatment of non-severe cases of clinical mastitis based on the results of rapid tests (used by the veterinary practitioner or the dairy producer himself) will ensure that substantially fewer clinical cases will be treated with antibiotics, which is in line with the societal request about more substantiated and reduced use of antibiotics in livestock farming. It directly leads to, among other things, less wastage of milk, a lower risk of penalties and a ban on delivery due to the supply of antibiotic-contaminated milk and smaller economic losses. In addition, based on the combined results of the rapid tests, the prevention of mastitis will be stimulated through improved udder health management, which will undoubtedly lead to an improvement in profitability, sustainability and animal welfare.