Veterinary workshop targets mastitis control advances
A specialised workshop for veterinary practitioners will focus on improving mastitis management in dairy herds. Scheduled for early November in Co. Cork, the event aims to enhance vets’ roles in disease prevention and treatment using new tools and collaborative strategies.
Veterinary professionals are invited to participate in the upcoming SmartDry Vet Workshop, scheduled for Monday, 2 November 2026, at Teagasc Clonakilty Agricultural College in County Cork. Running from 10am to 4pm, the event will centre on tackling mastitis, one of the most critical health and productivity issues facing dairy herds today.
The programme will cover evidence-based approaches to mastitis prevention, including the analysis of herd and milk recording data, selective dry cow therapy, and the veterinarian’s key role in problem-solving. Attendees will learn to utilise data from ICBF and other sources to identify infection trends and likely mastitis origins, alongside discussions on lactational antibiotic treatments and factors affecting cure rates within comprehensive control plans.
Introducing the new SmartDry App, designed to aid decision-making at dry-off, the workshop will showcase how this tool assists vets and farmers in selecting cows suitable for internal teat sealant-only drying, promoting selective dry cow therapy. The event will also highlight the importance of veterinary practitioners as mastitis advisors and explore collaborative efforts between Teagasc, Animal Health Ireland, and vets to bolster on-farm mastitis investigation and management. Practical sessions will review Teagasc’s dry-off research and demonstrate guideline-driven procedures to equip vets with best-practice skills for supporting farmers.