Mastitis Diagnostics: Spot a rising cell count in good time
Notice changes in the udder before they turn into a problem. Fore milking cups and quick tests keep udder health in view every day.
Kerbl KerbaTEST Milk Test – California Mastitis Test for Raw Milk
Regular price: From €9.35
Kerbl Premium Foremilk Cup, green, 1.5 L, with sieve insert and fill scale
Regular price: €9.89
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Kerbl SHOOF X-Spurt Mastitis Test Paddle, Quick CMT Testing
Sale price: €28.13 Regular price: €29.99 (6.2% saved)
Kerbl Dosing Bottle for Milk Cell Test, 250 ml, for Determining Cell Count
Regular price: €8.79
Mastitis Diagnostics: See it early, act early
Udder inflammation usually announces itself quietly. The milk turns flaky, the cell count rises, the cow gives less. If you look closely every day and test at regular intervals, you notice changes like these early. In this section you will find fore milking cups for the visual check and quick tests based on the California Mastitis Test for checking the cell count.
The visual check at fore milking
A fore milking cup with a black plate belongs in every milking routine. The first squirts from each quarter run across the plate, and flakes, clots or watery milk stand out immediately. At the same time fore milking stimulates the milk flow. Because those first squirts carry the highest germ load, stripping them out also improves milk quality. A fixed fore milking step before every milking costs very little time and gives you a daily picture of each individual quarter.
Quick tests for the cell count
The California Mastitis Test shows a raised cell count long before you can see anything with the naked eye. Milk and test fluid go into the paddle in equal parts, and a short swirl is enough. If the consistency changes, that points to a reaction in the quarter. Dosing bottles for the test fluid and electronic units that measure all four quarters separately round the range off. The results are a pointer for you and a good basis for the conversation with your vet. With sick animals, treatment always belongs in veterinary hands. Keep the used paddles clean and dry between tests.
Frequently asked questions
How does the California Mastitis Test work?
You mix milk and test fluid in the paddle and swirl it briefly. A gel like change in the mixture points to a raised cell count.
How often should I test?
Many farms test freshly calved cows, suspect cases and the whole herd at set intervals. Test more often as soon as something stands out.
Does a test replace the vet?
No. The test is an early warning signal. The diagnosis and every treatment belong in veterinary hands.
Keep udder health in view
The sooner you notice an udder infection starting, the calmer the parlour stays. A fore milking cup with a plate shows you at the very first squirt whether flakes or watery milk are in play, which is why it belongs in every milking routine. Quick tests based on the California Mastitis Test go a step further and make a raised cell count visible before the eye picks anything up. Test paddle, test fluid and dosing bottle are quickly to hand and simple to use, and reading the result takes only seconds. Electronic detectors measure all four quarters separately and give you values that you can compare over weeks and months. That way you build a solid basis for drying off decisions and for the conversation with your vet. Note the readings per cow, then patterns in the herd become easy to see.