tice in early June to discuss bacteriology results from individual cow milk samples submitted following an increase in both herd somatic cell count (SCC; May testday average 426 000 cells/ml) and clinical mastitis rate in the last few months (rolling 3 month average 50 cases per 100 cow-years and has doubled since January). The dairy is a 300 cow, autumn-calving herd averaging 7200 litres on a 305-adjusted lactation, managed in sand cubicles during the winter and pastured in summer months (Figure 1). Cows are milked twice daily through a 20:20 herringbone parlour with pre-milking teat disinfection and an automated post-milking teat disinfection (PMTD) and cluster disinfection system, although the former has been recently discontinued while cows are outside and cow-side mastitis detection has also been relaxed. Dry cows predominantly calve in paddocks from August, with some cows calving in loose yards at the end of the season. The herd was recently expanded, with 40 cows bought in from a herd dispersal sale last year as recently calved animals. The herd milk records monthly and electronic herd management data are available on farm. The bacteriology results are shown in Table 1. Figure 1. Herd — pastured during the summer months. SELF ASSESSMENT