The prevalence of udder infection and mastitis in herds producing bulk milk with either consistently high or low cell count.

Quarter samples from twenty-five dairy herds, representing 223 herds supplying direct to Brisbane, were cultured and submitted to the Wisconsin Mastitis Test (WMT). Thirteen herds had a history of producing bulk milk with a consistently high WMT score (greater than 15 mm) and in twelve herds the WMT score was consistently low. Prevalence of infection was higher in group A herds (22.2% quarters were infected with Staphylococcus aureus or streptococci) than in group B herds (9.8% of quarters were infected). There was considerable scatter of prevalence among both groups of herds. Overall, S. aureus was found in 19% of cows and 7% of quarters, and Streptococcus agalactiae in 15% of cows and 7% of quarters. Quarters from group A herds showed a higher WMT score than those in group B herds whether infected with S. aureus, Str. agalactiae, micrococci or yielded no detectable organisms. It was concluded that regular surveys are required of the high cell count herds to monitor mastitis status in the industry.