In this video, Tania and Brendan Fernyhough share their journey with Farm Medix and how it provided them with actionable diagnostics that led to improved mastitis management, reduced somatic cell count, better control, and a more enjoyable farming experience.
Six years ago, their dairy farm was struggling with mastitis, relying on broad-spectrum antibiotics indiscriminately and often exhausting their full allocation well before the end of the season. “We were just shooting in the dark with what we were dealing with,” recalls the farmer. Somatic cell counts (SCC) were steadily rising, treatment costs were mounting, and the stress of managing clinical cases was constant.
Farm Medix brought clarity through culture-based testing and structured protocols. “It made a huge difference. We knew what we were dealing with and what bug we had, and we could treat it effectively,” the farmer says. Quarter-level pathogen identification from Farm Medix, combined with their vet’s treatment protocols for the season and for dry cow therapy, enabled targeted decisions and dramatically reduced unnecessary antibiotic use.
Before Farm Medix:
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SCC regularly over 200,000, rising throughout the season
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Blanket treatments leading to wasted antibiotics, milk withholding, and staff stress
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Uncertainty about which cows and quarters truly required treatment
After Farm Medix:
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SCC consistently under 150,000 for most of the year
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Antibiotic use reduced, with treatments and selective dry cow therapy targeted to the cows and quarters that truly need them
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Greater confidence in herd management and less time spent “firefighting” mastitis
The farm also enjoyed practical benefits beyond the numbers: “It’s been night and day. It just makes farming a lot more fun when you know what’s going on and you’re not constantly wondering.” With Farm Medix’s tools and support—including quick responses to questions and guidance for tricky cases—the farm gained control over mastitis, safeguarded milk quality, and empowered staff to make informed decisions.
This story shows that with the right diagnostics, data-driven actions, and expert guidance, dairy farmers can turn a long-standing mastitis challenge into improved herd health, reduced antibiotic use, and a more manageable, enjoyable farm operation.
Farm Medix took the guesswork out of mastitis. We cut our antibiotic use, lowered our SCC, and finally took back control of herd health.
