DAIRY Australia's Countdown 2020 program has proven invaluable for South West Victorian dairyfarmers Tania and Stephen Luckin.
By utilising the tools and Mastitis Guidelines featured in the recently released Countdown Mastitis Toolkit app, as well as expert advice, they have managed to take control of a mastitis problem costing their business $69,000 a year.
Mr Luckin said initially the 500-cow farm at Heywood had a cell count problem that resulted in 90 cows being culled. They then had further problems so they engaged the expertise of Countdown 2020 adviser John Penry.
"Two plant checks revealed nothing and then we found we had a plant issue with vacuum and therefore hyper-keratosis in 40% of the herd, and that's when the app came into its own," Mr Luckin said,
"We have used the app since as a control mechanism to allow us to monitor the teat condition hyper-keratosis we identified, and we estimate that we are now saving ourselves $50,000 to $70,000 a year."
Mr Luckin said the app had proven its worth not only for the information and ease of use but for getting the problem out of the dairy and from their minds onto paper so they could analyse and correct it.
"For some farmers mastitis is a minor issue, but to us it's a major one with 20 minutes of extra milking time treating it and the cost, plus the hit to morale," he said. "It's frustrating every day if something like this doesn't come right."
Mrs Luckin said the app was also an excellent trainee reference tool.
"I think the biggest advantage of the app is that it's at hand so you are not having to go home at night and look for what you want in the book - it's at hand so you can do something about when you are there," she said.
"I use it with our staff, so when we are coming up to calving we look at the guidelines on the app. We've encouraged our staff to download the app on their phones as well.
"When we are coming up to drying off we will do the same thing again. If any issues come in the dairy we have a look at the guidelines in the app. It just makes sure we are all on the same page."
The Countdown 2020 program could certainly help other farmers who were experiencing similar problems, Mrs Luckin said.
"Don't put your head in the sand," she said. "If you have a mastitis problem there is a proven path to follow -- and that is the Countdown 2020 process. The investigations still need to be done by a professional so find an accredited Countdown Downunder adviser in your region."
To download the app visit www.dairyaustralia.com.au/countdown-app for a direct link or visit the Google Play or iTunes Apple store.
