• How will clinical mastitis be detected?
• If treatment protocols are based on severity, what criteria and methods for classification will be used?
• What scheme will be used to determine the pathogens responsible for clinical mastitis (which cows or quarters will be sampled? when? how? what tests will be run?)

2. Are treatment protocols in place?

• Do the protocols specify when to initiate treatment, which drugs and procedures to use, how frequently to treat, and for how long?
• Are dosages and withdrawal times clearly stated?
• Do protocols indicate when to change treatment, when to seek veterinary help, or when to consider humane alternatives?
• Are alternatives to medical treatment defined?

3. How will clinical mastitis cases be recorded?

• What record keeping system will be used?
• In addition to the date, the cow identity, the quarter affected, the treatment given, the withdrawal times for meat in milk, what else will be recorded?
• How will permanent records be retained?

4. How will the success or failure of treatment be detected?

• How often will records be reviewed?
• What parameters will be assessed to classify the outcome of treatment (somatic cell counts, subsequent clinical cases, milk production?)

5. How will a change in the pattern of clinical mastitis be detected?

• How often will records be reviewed?
• How will data be summarized and presented to the producer?

Source: AABP Factsheet “Evaluating the Completeness of a Clinical Mastitis Therapy Program”. A special report from the AABP Milk Quality and and Udder Health Committee

Originally published in the NMC newsletter "Udder Topics", August 2009