%0 Journal Article
%T Insights into udder health and intramammary antibiotic usage on Irish dairy farms during 2003-2010
%A Simon J More
%A Tracy A Clegg
%A Luke O'Grady
%J Irish Veterinary Journal
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/2046-0481-65-7
%X By international standards, Ireland is a relatively small dairy producer [1]. During 2003 to 2007, the number of approved dairy producers fell from 26,883 to 20,182, whereas the total volume of milk collected remained relatively steady. In 2008, the Irish dairy industry produced 5.1 million tonnes of milk, equivalent to 0.88% of global production [2]. However, the industry plays a critical role to the national economy, accounting for approximately 3% of national gross domestic product [3]. Approximately 85% of annual production is exported.The quality of Irish milk and other dairy products is of paramount importance, both to domestic and international consumers. Ireland is the world's leading producer of infant nutrition products, producing 15% of the world's powdered infant formula [3]. 'In 2009, the infant milk formula market was valued at approximately US$10 billion, growing on average at 15% each year [4]. Ireland is seeking a 50% increase in milk production by 2020, using 2007-09 as a baseline [5].A broad range of criteria is used to assess the quality of raw milk, relating to composition (butterfat, crude protein, lactose, milk solids etc.) and hygiene (total bacterial count, somatic cell count, residues of veterinary medicines including antibiotics). Somatic cell count (SCC) is the most important, single indicator of milk quality, reflecting the health status of the mammary gland (so-called 'udder health') and the risk of non-physiological changes to milk composition [6].There are substantial costs associated with sub-optimal udder health, both on-farm and during processing, as reviewed previously [1]. Herds with udder health problems, generally as a consequence of mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland), are also at increasing risk of antibiotic residue violation, as a result of increased antibiotic usage [7,8]. SCC underpins national and international regulation for milk quality [8], and standards for total bacterial counts (TBC), SCC and residues of v
%U http://www.irishvetjournal.org/content/65/1/7