Co. Limerick dairy farmers Carl and his father Denis Barclay did not happen upon their winning formula for tackling mastitis and high somatic cell counts (SCC) today or yesterday - it began 25 years ago.

Managing a herd of 100 dairy cows with SCC levels averaging 120,000 year-in year-out, Carl states that by partnering with GH AGRI and using their Ridomast programme, “we have been making money”.

With no withdrawal periods or dumping of milk if a cow has a case of mastitis, Carl said: "You're not pouring money down the drain, and you are keeping SCC levels across the herd down, all key to protecting the farm's income.”

He explained: “Like all farms, keeping the herd healthy all year round is key to maintaining profitability and sustainability.

Each year, the Barclays talk to the GH AGRI team, who "provide us with a straightforward guide on using the programme that even the kids could follow".

The Ridomast programme is designed to work as a 12-month programme with cows dosed in the easiest way possible via their drinking source.

That means no catching, no needles, and no angry cows.

GH AGRI team

The team in GH AGRI are always available, Carl said.

“When you ring them up, you're not listening to a robot,” he added.

"They understand farmers, and they always go above and beyond when we need them over the years”

On average, it costs €14 per year to treat each cow in a herd of 100 cows with the Ridomast programme.

When the lost revenue from mastitis cases with dumped milk and lower prices paid for milk with high SCC are taken into account, it is a no-brainer to choose Ridomast, a registered veterinary medicine with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

Carl goes on to highlight that GH AGRI and Ridomast have kept their farm “in bonus milk for a quarter of a century.

"If that’s not a recipe for success, I don’t know what is.”

Product range

Carl and Denis also use GH AGRI's other product ranges, 3-in-1 products Bovi.BLI.Complex and Bovi.BLS.Complex for BVD, leptospirosis, IBR and salmonella,

GH AGRI's other products, shed cleansers and footbath solutions, Airklenz and Hoofklenz, are a must at this time of year.

GH AGRI director Kevin McHugh also highlighted the importance of winter preparation.

McHugh said: “Now is a perfect time to begin the Ridomast programme, while cows are in for winter housing and the programme is easiest to administer, and with the herd being exposed to the programme before the busy calving season kicks in the coming months.”

To find out more about GH AGRI products, you can call their office on 093-25495 or Kevin on 087-2602549.