FARMING PRACTICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE UDDER INFECTION COMPLEX

A total of 4 129 dairy cows from 47 dairy farms were submitted each ye ar after calving to a milk sampling for bacteriological examination. S ix critera defined the udder infection complex: frequency of minor, ma jor and rare pathogens; rate of clinical and subclinical mastitis; and index of gravity of mastitis. Forty-seven variables described practic es and their associations with the type of farms (defined by the above 6 criteria) were studied. The associated variables were dipping pract ices, covering of the milking parlour, disinfection practices, housing cleanliness and milk production.