Herdscreen - Whole herd testing

Take control of 
Staph. aureus mastitis 

Herdscreen is a fast, accurate whole-herd test that identifies cows infected with Staph. aureus — even those showing no visible signs. Reset and manage your herd, regain control, protect performance, and restore peace of mind when Staph. aureus is holding you back

Free phone consultation
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Protect your herd
Peace of mind
Gold standard tech
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Protect your herd
Trade_Icons
Peace of mind
Trade_Icons
Gold standard tech
Trade_Icons
Protect your herd
The Herdscreen advantage
Actionable information
Cow-by-cow results, along with herd-level data, help shape a strategic management plan—supporting segregation decisions and, with your vet, targeted treatment.
Comprehensive
We test all your cows. Even cows with low SCC can be infected and spread Staph. aureus in your herd.
High sensitivity
Herdscreen picks up Staph. aureus at very low levels—down to 150 cfu/ml and tests for a range of mastitis-causing pathogens, like Streps, CNS, Corynebacteria, and Prototheca. 
Challenges of Staph. aureus

Why Staph. aureus can be hard to control

Contagious & hidden- 95% of  Staph. aureus cases show no signs. SCC alone can miss them, letting infection spread.

Aggressive & low cure rates- Biofilm formation allows Staph. aureus to hinder the penetration of antibiotics, resulting in treatment failure rates of 50–75%.

Why effective Staph. aureus control matters

CostlyStaph. aureus infection often leads to persistent high somatic cell counts, reduced milk yield, repeat treatments, and frequent culling.

Biosecurity risk- Staph. aureus can spread across herds. Limiting its presence reduces livestock-associated MRSA risk.

When to consider a Herdscreen

Do a Herdscreen® when  Staph. aureus is affecting mastitis, milk quality, or culling—and you’re ready to act.

We usually start with a  Snapshot® test to pinpoint all mastitis challenges and prioritise the actions that give the best return. Not every herd needs a Herdscreen® immediately. If timing or key steps like cow segregation aren’t feasible, we focus on practical measures now and guide you toward long-term solutions when you’re ready.

“Not a single mastitis case since the Herdscreen — I never thought this was possible”

- Tony Hollinshead, Dairy Farmer

Herdscreen process

 Simple, science-backed process

Sample collection
Lab analysis
Results
Sample collection
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1. Aseptic sampling

We organise individual-cow aseptic sampling in a single milking, supplying a complete sampling kit with step-by-step instructions and on-farm support to ensure the process runs smoothly.

Lab analysis
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2. Laboratory analysis

We fly your samples to our Hamilton lab, where our team of microbiologists uses high-tech, gold-standard culture methods for precise analysis.

Results
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3. Results & management plan

Within 48 hours receive a detailed report. Discuss next steps with our team and your vet.

Real farmers, real results

Used and trusted by dairy farmers nationwide

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"Mastitis doesn’t have to be stressful. With Farm Medix, we’ve reduced our mastitis levels to less than 5%, reclaimed time, and improved efficiency"

- Longburn Farm - 900 cows, Manawatu, Palmerston North

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“Farm Medix empowers us to farm confidently, make informed decisions, and achieve greater efficiency across the farm."

- Holly & Aaron Jackson - 380 cows, Culverden, Canterbury

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“With Farm Medix, we can identify exactly what bugs we’re dealing with, treat cows proactively, and use fewer antibiotics. It’s given us control!"

- Jim van der Poel - Owner of multiple farms in NZ and in the USA

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"Choose Farm Medix, the peace of mind and savings you gain from knowing exactly what you’re dealing with, combined with 7 day support is invaluable!"

- Jenny Buckley & Dave van den Beuken - 370 cows, Cambridge, Waikato

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"We are so happy! Working with Farm Medix, we are on top of things and looking forward to next season!" Mastitis doesn't stress us now. 

- Phil and Jenny Taylor - 440 cows, Morrinsville, Waikato

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“Doing the Herdscreen® wasn’t hard — what’s hard work is mastitis. Thanks to Farm Medix, we finally took control.”

- Tony Hollinshead - 300 cows, Matamata, Waikato

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“With Farm Medix, we have the tools and resources to control mastitis. The support they provide makes all the difference!”

- Sian & Logan Dawson - 840 cows, Ohaupo, Waikato

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"Farm Medix turned our mastitis worries into confidence — now we manage with knowledge, ease, and better results!"

- Sarah Smart - Farm Manager, 645 cows, North Otago

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“With Farm Medix help, we’ve reduced antibiotic treatments from 109 cows to just 12 — and production is up 6%.”

- Andrew Hardie & Helen Long - 430 cows, Manawatu, Whanganui

Herdscreen FAQs

We’ve pulled together the most common questions farmers have about Herdscreen

When to test?
Should I Herdscreen regularly?
Does positive = cull?
Is herd testing enough to control Staph. aureus?
Is Herdscreen difficult?
Does the intermittent shedding of Staphylococcus aureus affect the accuracy of testing for infection?
When to test?

First, assess your situation—you may or may not have a  Staph. aureus issue. Based on your circumstances, objectives, and ability to act, we’ll help you decide if whole-herd screening is relevant. Only Herdscreen when necessary to reset your herd, then use  FCDC (Fresh Cow Dry Cow) on-farm mastitis kits to test any new or suspect cows.

Should I Herdscreen regularly?

No. Herdcreening should be a one-time event, not a repeat or yearly process. We help you do it well to do it once.

Does positive = cull?

No. There are many options depending on your situation. We make sure findings are reviewed with your vet to help you reach your goals. Treatment, cow segregation, and milking positive cows last can successfully manage carriers. Herdscreen is more than a test, it’s all about putting you on a long term successful path.

Is herd testing enough to control Staph. aureus?
No. SCC indicates inflammation but not which pathogen or if it’s contagious. Shared clusters and low-sensitivity PCR tests (70%) mean many Staph. aureus carriers go undetected.
Is Herdscreen difficult?
No. On average sampling extends a single milking by one hour. Our aseptic sampling method follows gold-standard guidelines to protect the quality of your results. 
Does the intermittent shedding of Staphylococcus aureus affect the accuracy of testing for infection?
Scientific research demonstrates that although the concentration of  Staph. aureus in cow’s milk varies intermittently over time, the infection status of the cow can still be determined with a high degree of reliability.

Take control of mastitis

Transforming herd health — backed by science.

Get in touch
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