Snapshot® - Bulk tank milk testing

Find the real causes of mastitis — fast

Snapshot® is a powerful testing service to get on top of mastitis and hygiene challenges by identifying their root causes. It takes the pulse of your farm and delivers a clear roadmap, with expert support, so you can fix what matters, faster

Book a Snapshot
Farm Medix Representative Collecting Milk Sample from Milk Vat
new-zealand-dairy-farm
Actionable and supported
Lab-grade technology
Fast problem resolution
Trade_Icons
Actionable and supported
Trade_Icons
Lab-grade technology
Trade_Icons
Fast problem resolution
Trade_Icons
Actionable and supported

Mastitis is costly and every herd is different

You can see the problem, high SCC, clinical cases, but you can’t fix what you don’t know

Even with good routines and years of experience, the real causes of high cell count or mastitis aren’t always obvious.
Is it hygiene, equipment, staff practice, or a contagious pathogen circulating silently? Without a clear answer, well-intended fixes can waste time, money and milk if they don’t target the root cause. 
The good news? knowing the cause turns expensive guesswork into simple, high-return fixes.
Symptoms you commonly see
Symptoms you commonly see
  • Bulk tank SCC reflects the average udder health of the herd, but doesn’t pinpoint the reasons behind high counts. 

  • Clinical mastitis cases are obvious problems, but they don’t always reveal what’s causing them. 

  • Hygiene concerns are flagged on your milk docket, without identifying the source.

Snapshot turns dairy challenges into clear solutions

Snapshot is a rapid, hands-off bulk tank milk test that pinpoints what’s actually causing mastitis and hygiene problems on your farm.

Snapshot gives you the full farm picture. By identifying pathogens and linking them to your farm’s systems, routines, and environment, Snapshot targets the real causes, not the symptoms.

Snapshot helps you-

Spot issues early, before they cost you milk, cows, or profit.

Focus on fixes that matter, prioritising low-cost, high-impact improvements.

Improve your farm performance while cutting repeat problems and unnecessary treatments.

Snapshot is more than a lab result, it’s a revolutionary way to turn your experience into action, backed by science and expert support.

cows_before_milking_4

How it works

A simple process from start to finish

Sample collection
Lab analysis
Results
Plan
Sample collection
Farm_Medix_FCDC_75131f3d-ac66-473a-80cd-9be901512752

1. Information collection

Quick with no disruption to milking. 

Bulk tank milk sampling - We work with accredited partners and MilkTestNZ to ensure aseptic, high-integrity sample collection.

Farm data collection - A 15-minute conversation or on-farm visit helps us understand your unique context, including shed setup, milking routines, and herd details.
Lab analysis
Farm_Medix_0083

2. Lab analysis

Advanced gold-standard culture testing by our microbiologists for high accuracy results.

Results
Farm_Medix_FCDC_11
3. Clear results
In as little as 36 hours, you get a simple report with farm and herd-level actionable insights: 

  • Detected pathogens in order of priority, with risk levels. 
  • Hygiene & mastitis risk factors. 
  • Priority actions tailored to your goals.
Plan
dairy-farmer-logan-dawson-milking-cows-farm-medix
4. Plan together

Your vet, farm team, and Farm Medix accredited specialists target the identified root causes with a strategy that fits your farm and herd.

“After the Snapshot test, we knew what we were dealing with, what was causing it and we could put steps in to rectify it”

- Sarah Smart, Farm Manager, 645 cows, North Otago
Read more
Farm_Medix_FCDC_8
Snapshot® Surveillance -
Monitoring & Performance Improvement

Snapshot Surveillance® is our continuous monitoring and improvement service for proactive farming. With four tests per year, whether you’re calving, mating, drying off, or peaking, regular testing helps you address problems early before they hit your bulk tank or treatment log, and impact your bottom line.

Monitor what matters

Track udder health, hygiene, and patterns throughout the season.

Act early

Catch emerging issues before they turn into outbreaks.

Stay on track

Independent findings and insights align your team and ensure you're acting on facts, not guesswork.

Improve

Routine Snapshots turn seasonal data into strategic progress.

desktop_version

Snapshot® plans

Herd health is a moving target.
Manage it like one.
Think of it this way: You wouldn't run your milking plant without service intervals and performance checks. Mastitis pathogens shift across the season. Hygiene pressures change at start of season, mating, and dry-off. Without a regular feedback loop, you have no way of knowing whether things are improving, drifting, or quietly building toward a costly event. The Surveillance Plan gives you that feedback loop — so you can act on what's actually happening, not what you assume.

Recommended

Snapshot® Surveillance Plan
Seasonal monitoring that keeps your herd performing — and you in control.
$1,300

+ GST

| 4 tests per season

$325 per test — save $70 per test, with full trend tracking included

Full pathogen and hygiene profile at every key seasonal stage

Early detection of emerging mastitis and hygiene risks before they escalate

Season-long trend tracking and year-on-year benchmarking

Independent, science-based practical insights

Guides processes improvements, capital investments, and dry cow therapy decisions

Hands-off, we manage the timing and logistics for you

Ideal for: Farms that want to stay ahead of problems — and make decisions guided by actionable data.
Book Surveillance Plan
Snapshot® Single Test
A clear picture of your farm's challenges and opportunities — right now.
$395
+ GST
| per test

Full pathogen and hygiene profile

Root cause identification for SCC, mastitis, or hygiene alerts

Clear, actionable report with expert interpretation

Independent, science-based practical insights

Hands-off, we manage the timing and logistics for you

No commitment required

Ideal for: Investigating a specific problem, establishing a baseline before committing to a full season, or getting your first look at what Snapshot can reveal.
Book a single test
One test per key stage. Four chances to stay ahead.

Each test is timed to a moment when your herd faces peak biological stress — and when what you find out still gives you time to act.

Snapshot_graph

1

Start of season

A clinical mastitis case in early lactation can cost approximately 0.1 kgMS per cow per day for the rest of that lactation — hundreds of dollars lost from one event.1 Snapshot establishes your pathogen baseline and shows exactly where to focus before small issues snowball.

2

Mating

Mastitis is a major driver of poor fertility, and subclinical infections cost you almost as much as clinical ones.

  1. Clinical mastitis around insemination reduces conception odds by approximately 25–32%.
  2. High SCC (over 399,000 cells/mL) in the month after service reduces conception odds by approximately 26%.

A Snapshot around mating identifies the pathogens driving mastitis in your herd, so you can act on the root causes and strengthen your in-calf rate. 2

3

Mid lactation

Peak production and in-calf status make this the highest-value period of your season. Snapshot confirms your mastitis management plan is working and — depending on your pathogen profile — allows you to make changes to keep SCC from rising and clinical cases low.

4

Pre dry-off

Test 4–8 weeks before dry-off to allow time for final adjustments, ensure things are in shape for dry-off, and help build confidence in your dry cow therapy plan with your vet. This will allow you to reduce your farm's antibiotic footprint, target antibiotic use only where needed, and enter next season with confidence — one less thing to worry about.

1 Rajala-Schultz PJ et al. (1999). Effects of clinical mastitis on milk yield in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 82(6):1213–1220. Whole-lactation loss range of 110–552 kg milk per clinical case, sustained through the remainder of the lactation.
2 Hudson CD et al. (2012). Associations between udder health and reproductive performance in United Kingdom dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 95(7):3683–3697. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2011-4629. 85,482 services across 80 UK herds. CM at service: −32% conception odds; CM 1–7d before or after: −25 to −28%; effect measurable up to 70 days post-service. SCC 200–399k (1–30d after service): −18%; SCC >399k: −26%, comparable to a clinical case.
Not sure which plan is right for you?
Most farms start with a single test to see what Snapshot reveals — then move to Surveillance Plan once they understand what it means to have that knowledge across a full season. Either way, we'll help you make the most of it.
Chat with us

“Snapshot showed us exactly what was driving the high cell counts — and once we knew, we fixed it quickly.”

Jim van der Poel - Owner of multiple farms in NZ and USA
Read more
Farm_Medix_FCDC_7
Real farmers, real results

Used and trusted by dairy farmers nationwide

Farm_Medix_Dairy_Farmer_Holly_Aaron_Jackson_3
“Farm Medix empowers us to farm confidently, make informed decisions, and achieve greater efficiency across the farm."

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

Farm_Medix_Logan_Dawson_Sain_Dawson
“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

Farm_Medix_Dairy_Farmer_32c46799-d2df-4fb9-b0cc-99227c298859
"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

todd-mancer-dairy-farmer-testimonial-scc-results-farm-medix
“We’ve been working with Farm Medix for about four years now. It has changed the way we do things, helped reduce our antibiotic use, and saved us money on treatments.”

- Todd Mancer, Contract Milker, 850 cows, North Canterbury

fonterra-longburn-farm-dairy-testimonial-farm-medix_2
"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

il-1124-2018.03.16_Andrew_Hardie_and_Helen_Long
“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

jim-van-der-poel-dairy-farmer-testimonial-farm-medix
“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

Farm_Medix_Dairy_Farmer_Jenny_Buckley_Dave__van__den__Beuken
"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

Tony_Hollinshead_Pic
“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

Farm_Medix_FCDC_8
"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

Snapshot FAQs

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

What is Snapshot?
What does Snapshot detect?
How fast are the results?
How is Snapshot different from SCC testing?
How is Snapshot® different from antibiogram, other mastitis tests, or PCR systems?
What is Snapshot Surveillance Programme ?
When should I book a Snapshot test?
How often should I test?
What support comes with Snapshot?
How does Snapshot improve profitability?
How does Snapshot fit with Farm Medix’s other tools?
What is Snapshot?

Snapshot® is a bulk tank milk testing service that identifies the causes of mastitis and hygiene problems on your farm. Snapshot® detects mastitis pathogens and hygiene indicators using gold-standard culture methods — the same approach is trusted and used by diagnostic labs and hospitals.

Unlike simple SCC readings, Snapshot® detects the actual bacteria or hygiene factors responsible and pinpoints root causes, so you can act with precision.

What does Snapshot detect?

Snapshot identifies the full range of mastitis pathogens and hygiene organisms found in herds. This broad scope ensures even minor or hidden contributors to mastitis, high SCC, or hygiene issues are detected early.

How fast are the results?
Results are typically available within 36 hours of sample receipt at the lab. This rapid turnaround allows you and your vet to take immediate, informed action.
How is Snapshot different from SCC testing?
Somatic Cell Count (SCC) measures udder inflammation, not its cause.
A high SCC could result from multiple factors — different bacteria, milking routines, or environmental hygiene — all requiring different responses.

Snapshot® identifies why SCC is rising by revealing the actual pathogens and hygiene issues behind the inflammation.
How is Snapshot® different from antibiogram, other mastitis tests, or PCR systems?
Snapshot® is unique and only provided by Farm Medix. It is a comprehensive assessment of the herd and farm. It uncovers root causes and allows your team to prevent mastitis, fix issues and improve your performance. 

Antibiogram is an indication of the resistance profile of current subclinical pathogens to antibiotics in your herd and may be recommend by your Veterinarian in conjunction with a Snapshot® test to give a complete subclinical analysis along with resistance information. Generally, an antibiogram considers only small number of common mastitis pathogens.

Other tests typically provide pathogens present without supporting information about corrective actions. PCR systems use specific probes which don’t include a wide range of organisms and are unable to discern contamination.
Snapshot® uses culture-based diagnostics, the international gold standard, providing high sensitivity and accurate identification of the microorganisms present.
What is Snapshot Surveillance Programme ?
Snapshot Surveillance® is a continuous monitoring programme that runs four times a year to track changes in udder health and hygiene across the season.

It helps you- 
  • Detect emerging problems before they escalate.
  • Align farm staff and vets with clear, independent data.
  • Turn seasonal results into long-term improvements in herd performance and profitability.
When should I book a Snapshot test?
Snapshot® should be your starting point whenever you face mastitis or hygiene challenges — or simply want to benchmark or improve herd health and milk quality. 

It is especially valuable at key transition or stress points such as- 

  • Rising bulk tank SCC or recurring clinical cases. 
  • Post-calving, mating, or mid-season performance checks. 
  • After major changes, such as new stock, new milking equipment or new staff. 
  • Whenever hygiene alerts appear on your milk docket. 

Many farms run quarterly tests as part of Snapshot Surveillance®, providing consistent oversight and measurable progress toward better performance year after year.
How often should I test?
For proactive control and continuous improvement, quarterly testing (every 2–3 months) is recommended.

This schedule tracks the herd’s microbiological profile through calving, peak production, mating, and drying-off, helping prevent outbreaks and unnecessary treatments.
What support comes with Snapshot?
Every Snapshot® test includes-

  • Expert interpretation from Farm Medix microbiologists.
  • A clear, actionable report. Collaboration with your vet and herd advisor to tailor responses
  • You’re not left with lab data — you receive insight, context, and a plan.
How does Snapshot improve profitability?
By identifying the true causes of mastitis and hygiene issues, 

Snapshot® helps-
  • Cut milk losses and penalties from high SCC.
  • Reduce antibiotic use through targeted interventions.
  • Prevent costly recurrence and culling.
  • Improve milk quality premiums and herd longevity.

How does Snapshot fit with Farm Medix’s other tools?
Snapshot® provides the diagnostic foundation that guides use of other Farm Medix solutions- 

  • Fresh Cow Dry Cow® – On-farm cow-level mastitis testing to define best corrective actions for clinical mastitis and high SCC cows. Supports diagnosis and treatment decision-making around calving and drying off. Complement Snapshot herd-level findings. 

  • Herdscreen® – Whole-herd cow-by-cow testing. Identifies Staph. aureus cows and other pathogens. Used as a reset point as part of a  Staph. aureus management plan. 


Together, these tools form a data-driven, low-antibiotic approach to whole-herd health management.