Easy ways to help keep mastitis at bay

Mrs Nelly Sum at the milking shed fixing the machine to one of the dairy animals at her home in Ng’echek Nandi County.She ventured into dairy farming after retiring politics as a Councilor. She supplies milk produce to Lelchego, a farmers' co-oporative society that collects produce before selling it to processors.It is a venture she says she will never regret as it gives her a source of income.She hopes to expand and open a company in future 30/3/2016 photo by ELIUD KIPSANG

Mastitis is the costliest disease in dairy production because it strikes where it pays most — the udder. It causes losses through reduction in milk production, cost of treatment and culling of genetically superior dairy animals.

The management of the disease isn’t easy and after recovery, milk production is henceforth negatively affected.