Mastitis resistance on the cards for Canterbury farmer

For one Canterbury farmer, a chance to participate in a Somatic Cell Count (SCC) study to validate mastitis-resistant cows gave him more insight into his animals.

Ben McConnell from Hinds in mid-Canterbury played a key role in World Wide Sires’ study to validate cow traits that feed into our Mastitis ResistantPRO pack.

“Last season, WWS approached us to be involved in a Mastitis and Somatic Cell Score case study.”

“The herds included needed detailed recording of mastitis cases and be herd testing regularly for SCC — we made up two of the 28 herds in the study.”

McConnell said his operation’s ongoing focus on SCC and mastitis resistance within his multiple herds made them a natural fit to participate in the study.

“We put a lot of focus on mastitis prevention and SCC on-farm, we were pleased to see that where we sat in the cohort study showed this.”

That hard work by Ben and his team put them and their animals in a great place. 

“Currently for SCC this season to date, we’ve averaged 58 in January, and 75 STD, to the factory.”

Ben said making particular breeding decisions gave his team more information when it came to mating season, and it was possible to breed for lower SCC.

“It was interesting to still see the strong genetic link between the WWS Mastitis & SCS traits to our clinical cases and SCC Threshold limits.

“It clearly emphasised to me that you can breed for not just lower SCC, but lower cases of clinical mastitis with Mastitis ResistantPRO designated sires.

This article was first published in February 2026