I have got a holstein X cow we sold her calf a couple weeks ago and started milking her getting 1 and 1/2 gallons every milking. We did the same thing for the last 2 years except last year we let a Amish family use her. This year she has some mastitis in the left back quarter it is still milking but not as much as the other 3 and it has a hard lump above the teat what can I do to clear it up. Thanks

Two things cause mastitis.
Assuming it is infection and you see/taste problem with milk,
The stores sell an injection you squirt up the teat. She wont like you very much for it.
Then keep her milked out as much as possible on that quarter..

The other cause is injury.

The Dairy people know more here but when I was milking my jersey she got it. Did what I said then used a different injection when she dried up and next freshening it was gone.

You'll probably lose that quarter.

In the future, use a CMT kit monthly to check for impending mastitis problems. It's inexpensive, maybe $12- one kit will last you a long time. You can find it on Jeffers.com.

http://www.jefferslivestock.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=2&mscssid=J5D3XQ3AQ7NR8J9S5A9GP8P446956UN4&pf_id=16616&cmkw=cmt%20AND%20kit


Disinfect the udder with "Udder Wash" before milking. Be sure to milk the quarters out completely and use a teat dip after milking.

Just some preventative ideas.

By the way, you could get that much milk out of a Jersey and they eat a bit less than a Holstein as they're smaller animals. Perhaps rather than messing about with curing the mastitis, sell her for meat and get a Jersey. ?

Z rider thanks for the info I got some medicine today and will try it and hope to have good sucess as you. Sue sue thanks for your info,as for my cow being large she probably weighs about 800 to 900 lbs, it is just me, wife and daughter so we are giving family and friends milk and this cow sure has a lot of cream. We have made alot of sweet cream butter to put in the freezer about 14 lbs now Thanks again.

The elderly lady at the dairy I worked at as a kid always "stripped' the cows by hand after the milkers were removed. She claimed milk left in caused mastitis. I don't know, but do know it was uncommon in their Guernsey herd in the late '70's early '80's. So maybe the adult needs to finish stripping her or the one that can get the last drop without severe irritation to the teats.