It's the start of the next one.
Dry-off is where next season begins
Steps leading up to dry-off can help prevent mastitis in the dry period and even impact next season. Here’s how to approach dry-off with clarity
Dry-off isn't the end of the season.
Subclinical infections at dry-off and infections picked up during the dry period can manifest as clinical mastitis next season. It is important to understand the cows’ status with as much information as possible.
Blanket dry cow therapy used to be the default. But with growing pressure to reduce antibiotic use, and real evidence that selective therapy works, the question isn't whether to be more targeted. It's how.
The answer: know what's in your herd before you make dry-off decisions.
Results from Kaituna farm using the Farm Medix system
“Farm Medix empowers us to farm confidently, make informed decisions, and achieve greater efficiency across the farm."
Holly & Aaron Jackson - 380 cows, Kaituna farm, Culverden, Canterbury
Three tools for a confident dry-off and evidence based selective dry cow therapy
Farm Medix gives you a clear pathway from herd-level surveillance to individual cow decisions. Each tool has a specific role in your dry-off preparation.
Snapshot®
Herd-level surveillance
Start here. A single bulk tank sample reveals the pathogens present across your herd, including contagious organisms, environmental bacteria, and hygiene or refrigeration issues. It tells you what you're really dealing with, and gives you an opportunity to address mastitis before you plan anything.
FCDC™ - Fresh Cow Dry Cow
Cow and quarter-level pathogen identification
Screen high-SCC cows with a whole-cow sample, as well as individual quarters on RMT reactives and clinical cases. You'll know exactly which pathogen is present: Staph. aureus, Strep. uberis or something else entirely, so your dry-off strategy matches the actual pathogen.
Herdscreen®
Whole-herd Staph. aureus detection
If Snapshot flags Staph. aureus, Herdscreen identifies every carrier, including cows with low SCC that would otherwise slip through. Whilst many persistently high SCC cows will harbour major pathogens, up to 95% of Staph. aureus infections are subclinical. You won't find them with Herd testing or SCC history alone.
What this means at dry-off
With Snapshot®, Herdscreen®, and FCDC™ results in hand, you and your vet can make dry-off decisions based on evidence:
Cows with no infection - consider teat sealant only, reducing unnecessary antibiotic use.
Cows with treatable infections - apply targeted dry cow therapy matched to the pathogen.
Staph. aureus or incurable pathogen carriers - segregate, manage, or cull, with data behind the decision.
Don't wait for calving to find out what went wrong at dry-off
Dry-off decisions made without diagnostics are expensive: in clinical cases, lost milk, wasted antibiotics, and culled cows. The information costs a fraction of what the problems cost.
Real farmers, real results
Trusted by dairy farmers nationwide
“Farm Medix gives us pathogen-level data and the diagnostic confidence to run selective dry cow therapy properly. At dry-off, you can't afford to guess.”
Todd Mancer - 850 cows, North Canterbury
“Farm Medix empowers us to farm confidently, make informed decisions, and achieve greater efficiency across the farm."
Holly & Aaron Jackson - 380 cows, Kaituna farm, Culverden, Canterbury
“With the help of Farm Medix, we’ve reduced antibiotic treatments from 109 cows to just 12 — and production is up 6%.”
Andrew Hardie & Helen Long - 430 cows, Manawatu, Whanganui
