An overview of the efforts of the Quality Milk Alliance to cut antibiotic use in half and mastitis by a third in targeted dairy herds in the next five years. Presented by Dr. Ronald Erskine of Michigan State University, USDA-NIFA grant #

1. An Integrated Extension and Education
Program to Reduce Mastitis and
Antimicrobial Use
This project was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
Competitive Grant no. 2013-68004-20439 from the USDA National Institute
of Food and Agriculture

2. An Integrated Extension and Education
Program to Reduce Mastitis and
Antimicrobial Use
• Michigan State University
• The Pennsylvania State University
• Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
• Mississippi State University
• 5 years
• Start date- Feb 1, 2013
• End date- Jan 31, 2018

3. Aim 1- Develop Quality Milk Alliance
(QMA)
Leader : Martinez
Schewe, Erskine, Conteras
Stations: MissSU, MSU, PSU, FAMU
Aim 2- Develop and Test
Quality Milk Specialist
Certificate program
Leader: Hovingh
Erskine, Wolfgang, Radhakrishna
Stations: PSU, MSU, FAMU
Aim 3- Implement and
evaluate QMA farm
intervention
Leader: Erskine
Contreras, Kayitsinga, Wolf
Stations: MSU, PSU, FAMU
Stakeholder
and Advisor
Input
Increased dairy
food security
and quality
QMA farm
intervention to reduce
mastitis and
antimicrobial use
Quality Milk
Specialists
certified to perform
QMA farm
intervention

4. Aim 1 Developing the QMA Team Approach
Sub-
aim 1a
• Pre-evaluation survey
• Focus groups
Sub-
aim 1b
• Develop QMA with Expert Advisory
Panel
Sub-
aim 1c
• Test of QMA-intervention in pilot herds
• Focus Groups

5. Units 1-3: Milking Practices and Equipment,
Cow Management, Infectious Etiology
Quality
Milk
Alliance
Unit 5: Behavioral and Attitude Variables
Assessed from Sub-Aim 1a
Unit 4: Antimicrobial Stewardship
Therapeutic Decisions
Account for mastitis-related drug use
Apply HAACP
Model
Sub-aim 1b: Development of the QMA- Sub-aim 1b

6. Sub-aim 1c: Pilot study of QMA
• 8 to 12 herds in Michigan
• 3 months
• Apply QMA team approach
• Feedback (Focus groups)
– Producers
– Employees
– Veterinarians

7. Sub-aim 1c: Pilot model for QMA-based intervention in dairy herds
QMA assessment in
herd
Identify critical control
point (behavioral)
deficiencies
Implement
antimicrobial use
program
(Leg bands, on-farm
culture, drug
containers)
Recommend farm
specific changes with
herd quality milk
team
Monitor goals
with herd quality
milk team

8. Phase I- MSU-CVM
Enrollment open all semesters
All Students (BS, Ag Tech, DVM) and Dairy
Industry Professionals
Online : Fundamentals of QMA
Phase II- PSU
Summer enrollment
Undergrads
Practical – “hands on”
Phase II – PSU
Summer enrollment
DVM students
Practical – “hands
on”
Phase II- PSU
Summer enrollment
Dairy Professionals
Practical - “hands
on”
Examination
AIM 2 : Quality Milk Specialist Certificate

9. Aim 3: QMA Intervention Trial Flowchart
Control Herds
n = 80
Pre-test Instrument
(Mastitis behaviors
and attitudes
Audit antimicrobial use
and clinical mastitis
records only
No further intervention
Post-test instrument
(Mastitis behaviors and
attitudes)
Treatment (Intervention) Herds
n = 80
Pre-test Instrument
(Mastitis behaviors and attitudes)
QMA –based Intervention
Quarterly audit with QMA,
team meetings, adapt
practices as needed
Post-test instrument
(Mastitis behaviors and
attitudes)

10. QMA, Goals,
Team Meeting
Collect drug containers
Record clinical mastitis
Collect drug containers
Record clinical mastitis
BTSCC
Start 3 6 9 12 15
(months)

11. Aim 1- Develop Quality Milk Alliance
(QMA)
Aim 2- Develop and Test
Quality Milk Specialist
Certificate program
Aim 3- Implement and
evaluate QMA farm
intervention
Stakeholder
and Advisor
Input
Increased dairy
food security
and quality
QMA farm
intervention to reduce
mastitis and
antimicrobial use
Quality Milk
Specialists
certified to perform
QMA farm
intervention