Risk Factors for Mastitis Infections during the Dry Period Management of the dry period is recognized as a critical component of udder health

Introduction The quality of milk is defined based on the somatic cell count (SCC) and bacterial count of bulk tank milk. Since 1986, the dairy industry has successfully adapted to gradual reductions in allowable regulatory limits for SCC and bacteria. The dairy industry has responded by adopting methods to control contagious mastitis and the prevalence of mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactia has steadily declined (Makovec and Ruegg, 2002, Philpot, 2002). Even though the rate of contagious mastitis is declining, mastitis remains the most frequent and costly disease of dairy cattle because of increased infections with environmental pathogens. The importance of the dry period in the control of contagious and environmental mastitis and the production of high quality milk is universally recognized.