An Integrated Extension and Education Program to Reduce Mastitis and Antimicrobial use - Dr. Ruben Martinez, Michigan State University - presented at the Quality Milk Alliance meeting at Michigan State in June 2013.

1. Rubén Martinez
With the assistance of Marizel Davila Figueroa;
William Escalante and Christian Ramirez
Annual Advisory Meeting
East Lansing, MI
June 18, 2013

2. 
Pre-evaluation of current behavioral
barriers to adopting mastitis control
protocols
To understand current
behaviors/practices, knowledge, and
beliefs about mastitis control and
antimicrobial use on dairy farms
 Survey of dairy farms (pre-assessment)
 Focus groups with owners/managers and
employees
Sub-aim 1a
2

3. 
Conducted between from February
through April in MI, PA & FL
Piloted in MI (two focus groups in Dec,
2012)
Five in MI (additional Spanish-speaking
groups)
Four in PA (additional Amish group)
Three in FL (three key groups)
Focus Groups
3

4. 
Employers/Managers
Spanish Speaking Employees
English Speaking Employees
Amish owners
Groups
4

5. 
Employees generally have an understanding
of mastitis prevention
Various types of bedding are used (manure;
sawdust; sand; water beds)
Milker training is inconsistent
Information usually obtained from
veterinarians, other managers, newsletters,
etc.
Mastitis = Farm costs
Key Findings
5

6. 
Cleanliness -- Farm-wide practices
 Bedding
 Milking practices
 Stripping
 Dipping Variable across farms
 Post-dipping
 Sealing
 Clean equipment (liner replacement, vacuum
lines, milking machines)
Mastitis Prevention
6

7. 
Well functioning equipment (pulsators;
regulators, etc.)
Avoid overcrowding
 Use of free stalls
 Minimizing stress
Close observation of cows
7
Mastitis Prevention Cont’d

8. 
Training of milkers is inconsistent and
usually done by co-workers (gap in views
between workers & owners/mgrs)
Limited training provided by veterinarians,
occasional workshops
Self learning through videos (limited use)
Manual (SOP; Protocol) for farm use (PA vets
group)
Limited understanding of SCC 8
Training Issues

9. 
Mixed responses regarding communication
problems with Spanish-speaking
 ―Language a problem in other spheres‖ – getting to
know them beyond workplace issues (―know their
opinion of us‖)
 Limited translators (usu. through a Latino
manager)
Limited communications between work shifts
Latino workers reluctant to report problems
(―don’t upset the boss‖; ―clam up when someone
breaks something‖; seek to make temporary fixes)
9
Communication Issues

10. [Latino workers] don’t like gray areas—‖they
want a boss‖
Limited understanding of SCC among
workers
Banding marking
 Inconsistent use of colors
 Minimizes communications between shifts
Minimum communications between ―bosses
and workers‖ – limited opportunities for
worker input
 Meeting do not seek worker inputs 10
Communication Issues
Cont’d

11. 
Meetings with management have limited
discussion (esp. with Latino workers);
characterized by scolding/accusatory climate
Veterinarians → Mgmt → Workers
Owners → Foremen → Workers
11
Communication Issues
Cont’d

12. 
Veterinarians
Other Managers
Magazines/Newsletters
Local sales guys
Labels on meds
Nutritionist
Internet
12
Information Sources

13. 
Pressure on milkers to produce
 Milkers get all the pressure—whole farm depends
on them
Number of cows milked by employees
suggested is 500 per shift (milking up to 800;
maybe more)
―Quantity over Quality‖ climate; ―time
pressures lead to shoddy work‖; distraction;
―Rapid pace leads to increased mastitis‖
13
Production Issues

14. Lack of consistency in cleanliness
 Inconsistent practices across shifts
 Protocol drift; ―employee drift‖ (85-95%
consistency)
 Dirty bedding (problems with wet, frozen, and
recycled sawdust and sand; removing dirty
sand and adding to sand)
 Dirty equipment (machines, hoses, etc.)
 Improper use of gloves
 Heat and humidity/wet pastures (lead to spikes) 14
Mastitis Prevention
Problems

15. Keeping sick cows too long (should sell
earlier despite productive cows)
Undermilking and overmilking identified as
problems (workers)
Cross-cutting measures lead to employee
turnover, which leads to spikes in mastitis
Knowing which antibiotic to use in treatment
Part-time employees are inconsistent
Lack of team effort on the farm
Investment in prevention (costs money)
15
Mastitis Prevention
Problems Cont’d

16. Punitive model of worker management
 Upper management only meets with milkers when things
have gone wrong (―save downed cows and never
rewarded‖; ―not even a tap on the shoulder‖)
Limited incentive models
 SCC bonuses by wholesale buyers don’t always flow
down to workers
 Lack of wage increases (unpaid time; 30 early arrival for
shift communication – FL)
 Limited time off (12 hour work-shifts; no OT pay; 6 day
work week;)
Little or no breaks provided for workers 16
Human Resource Mgmt

17. 
Cultural Gaps – instrumental (task-oriented vs
personal-oriented culture)
 Language communication problems are basis for lack
of communication on personal level with workers
 Spanish speaking workers feel very isolated
―Workers are not respected‖ – leads to worker
apathy (les vale); workers view themselves as
invisible
 Mutual respect is critical
17
Issues Peculiar to
Latino Workers

18. 
Gap between worker and owner/manager
views -- latter view them as hardworking and
reliable
Workers want increased understanding of the
how and why of practices
18
Issues Peculiar to
Latino Workers Cont’d

19. 
Mastitis = costs (important to avoid treatment
costs)
Family farms take pride in quality – they are
personally invested in the product
Profit rate is greater with low SCC
Employees want to perform well on behalf of
employers
19
Values

20. Achieve consistency in training; provide
constant reminders of protocol consistency
Provide information/education to meet (Latino)
managers/employees desire to know more
View industry in transitional phase from family
farm to corporate businesses and the need for
HR development
Find ways to improve communications
 Translate materials (manuals) into Spanish
20
Summary
Recommendations

21. “Happy cows are productive cows”
21

22. Happy Workers are Productive Workers
22