SmartDry project featured in international mastitis magazine

The SmartDry project is a Teagasc-led, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) funded research project, investigating how farmers can transition to implementing selective dry cow therapy in their herds, while maintaining udder health and reducing antibiotic use.

This project emphasises the involvement of farmers and other stakeholders (advisors, vets, co-ops) in research design, development and dissemination. In 2025, the project team conducted two workshops with farmers to co-design the research activities. In these workshops, it was highlighted the need for decision support around which cows should be treated with internal teat sealant alone and evaluation support of dry period outcomes.

During 2025, the project team conducted studies to address common questions from farmers regarding selective dry cow therapy. One study looked at the best cut-point for selecting cows for internal teat sealant alone treatment at dry-off: <150,000 cells/mL, <100,000 cells/mL, 65,000 cells/mL, using the California Mastitis Test (CMT) or using an On-Farm culture system (OFC). Results are being currently analysed. Other studies have looked at a guidelines-based dry-off routine for cleaning and infusing dry cow products and its impact on SCC, in commercial and research herds. Preliminary results show that additional steps for cleaning teats can result in lower SCC in cows treated with sealant alone.

The project will continue with farmer activities and research studies until 2028. Download a PDF of SmartDry Project article. If you want more information or want to get involved email pablo.silvabolona@teagasc.ie

M²-magazine is an academic magazine on mastitis and milk quality for the dairy professional. It brings international information, highlights and news related to mastitis and milk quality. For more information, visit the  M²-magazine website.