How the Lely MQC-C supports selective dry cow therapy
The dry period plays a crucial role in the health and productivity of dairy cows. It allows the udder to recover from the previous lactation and prepares the cow for a successful start of the next one. At the same time, it is a key moment to reduce the risk of mastitis and udder infection in early lactation.
In recent years, dairy farming has moved towards a more targeted approach: selective dry cow therapy. Instead of treating all cows with antibiotics at dry off, treatment decisions are based on individual cow health. Accurate and timely insight into somatic cell count (SCC) is essential for this approach.
Udder health
Why selective dry cow therapy matters
Traditionally, most cows were dried off using antibiotics as a preventive measure. While effective, routine antibiotic use increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance and is no longer considered best practice.
Selective dry cow therapy focuses on:
- Treating cows that actually need antibiotics
- Avoiding unnecessary treatments
- Supporting responsible antibiotic use
- Improving long-term udder health
To apply this strategy successfully, farmers need reliable information about udder health at the moment of drying off the cow, not weeks later.
Somatic cell count as a decision tool
Somatic cell count is one of the most important indicators of udder health. Elevated or fluctuating SCC levels often indicate subclinical mastitis or chronic udder inflammation, even when no visible symptoms are present. Towards the end of the lactation cycle of the cow, SCC naturally tends to increase as milk yield decreases. This makes decisions based solely on periodic laboratory tests less reliable. Cow health can also change quickly in the final weeks before dry off. Frequent, up-to-date SCC measurements at cow level are therefore essential for making the right treatment decision.
What is the Lely MQC-C?
The Milk Quality Control Cell Count (MQC-C) is an additional feature on the Lely Astronaut. It automatically gives an estimation of s omatic cell count. The result of that test is visible after milking. Research is conducted via smart sampling, which means that sampling takes place every 3rd milking or every milking with a high SCC (>250,000 cells/mL). This estimation creates a detailed udder health profile for each cow throughout the entire lactation. Because the MQC-C measures SCC frequently, it captures daily variations and trends that may be missed by standard milk recording. This makes it easier to identify cows with chronic or fluctuating cell counts.
Supporting selective dry cow therapy in practice
By using MQC-C data, farmers can:
- Identify cows with a consistently low or high SCC
- Detect cows with chronic or subclinical mastitis
- Base dry cow therapy decisions on recent, cow-specific data
This supports a more precise and confident approach to selective dry cow therapy, reducing both health risks and unnecessary antibiotic use.
Preparing cows for a successful dry off
A successful dry period starts before the actual moment of dry off. Lely systems support this transition by gradually reducing milking frequency and concentrate feeding towards the end of lactation. This helps lower milk production and reduces stress on the udder. Combined with SCC insights from the MQC-C, farmers gain a clear overview of each cow’s udder health status, allowing them to choose the most appropriate dry off strategy per cow.
From udder health to overall cow health
Good udder health during the dry period has a direct impact on:
• Mastitis risk in early lactation
• Milk quality and cell count after calving
• Fertility and overall cow health
• Farm performance and efficiency
When selective dry cow therapy is applied correctly, cows enter the next lactation healthier, more resilient, and better prepared to perform.
Data-driven decisions with Lely Horizon
In Lely Horizon, SCC data from the MQC-C is combined with other parameters such as milk yield, conductivity, and milking behaviour. This gives farmers practical insights and clear guidance, supporting daily decision-making around udder health and dry off management.
Conclusion
Selective dry cow therapy requires accurate, timely insight into udder health. The Lely MQC-C provides frequent somatic cell count measurements that help farmers identify which cows need treatment and which do not. By combining smart sensor data with automated milking and farm management tools, Lely supports responsible antibiotic use, healthier udders, and a stronger start to the next lactation, benefiting both cow health and the dairy farm as a whole.
Other Farming Insights
Rumen health in dairy cows
Stable rumen health is essential for the health of dairy cows and consistent milk production. The rumen functions optimally within a narrow pH range. When rumen pH drops too far, rumen acidosis develops. This is a common but often underestimated issue within dairy herd health.
Rumen acidosis occurs when dairy cows consume large amounts of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates while there is insufficient structure in the ration. As a result, rumen pH falls below the optimal level, disrupting the microbial balance. This affects not only feed efficiency but also the overall health of the cow.
