Mastitis Management: A Training Handbook for Extension Workers

Mastitis is a complex multifactorial disease affecting many farmers in low-income countries. Early detection of mastitis and good management practices are necessary to tackle the disease in the short and long term. Even though dairy farmers are aware of the disease, cultural practices, poor knowledge, lack of money and therefore supplies, manure management and other factors make it difficult to prevent and control mastitis. This handbook is a tool to help local extension officers facilitate farmer workshops on the causes and prevention of mastitis. If farmers identify the causes of mastitis for themselves and they identify ways of preventing mastitis then they are more likely to implement the changes on a long-term basis. The aim of the farmer workshop is to give the relevant information to dairy farmers and their advisors, but also to bring about change in practices, which will reduce mastitis.