Variation in partial direct costs of dry cow therapy on 37 large dairy herds

Abstract

: The objective of this observational study was to estimate partial direct costs of dry cow antibiotic therapy (DCT) protocols used on 37 large dairy herds in Wisconsin and to estimate the potential monetary savings and reduction in antimicrobial usage (AMU) if selective DCT was used. Partial direct costs of DCT were calculated using costs of intramammary (IMM) antimicrobials and teat seal-ants. Data were retrospectively collected on 37 large dairy farms for a period of one year and included the total number of cows dried-off, types of IMM antimicrobial used, and product