Mastitis management survey, research for RAFT soultions Ltd Rapipath test

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RapiPath is a project lead by RAFT Solutions Ltd in North Yorkshire, that is innovating the world of mastitis diagnostics. Funded by InnovateUK, the project has been running since 2019 and will deliver a rapid molecular test to detect the pathogens that cause mastitis in ruminants.

Our aim is to provide farmers with their results for mastitis in a faster and more informative way than is currently possible.

The technology has been in trial in a veterinary laboratory throughout 2024, using real milk samples, running a comparison of RapiPath’s results against conventional bacteriological culturing techniques.

Our technology is able to provide rapid results against the casual pathogens of mastitis within 2 hours of testing.

Our next stage of development is to simplify the current RapiPath process, moving the technology to an automated solution where a sample of milk is inserted into our device, and the testing and result is generated. This will allow for accurate and rapid testing of milk on-farm, or at local veterinary and laboratory practices.

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* 1. What size is your milking herd?

< 100

101-200

201-300

301-400

401-500

500+

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* 2. What system do you run?

Spring Calving

Autumn Calving

All Year Round

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* 3. How often do you take samples for bacteriology

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Annually

Never

Other (please specify)

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* 4. What do you do with your collected milk samples for mastitis testing?

Tested on Farm straight away

Send to vets

Frozen to test at later date

Other (please specify)

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* 5. Who facilitates your milk sample collection for bacteriology?

Yourself

Farm Staff

Vet Tech

Other (please specify)

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* 6. How do you detect mastitis in your cows? Tick all that apply.

Physical and/ or visual observation

Data from milk check (SCC)

Sample sent to vets

Vets/vet tech call out

On farm test kit

Using automated systems e.g. sensor systems, pedometer, collar bolus, tags etc.

Milk conductivity/ milk analyser with robotic parlour

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Have you ever used on-farm mastitis test kit?

Yes

Have you ever used an on-farm mastitis test?

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* 8. YES, Which one:

Vetscan Mastigram + (rapid dipstick test)

Milk mastitis LDH test (dipstick measuring LDH level)

California milk test

PCR

Lateral Flow tests

Other (please specify)

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* 9. NO, Why:

Wasn’t aware of any

Following vet direction

Cost concerns

Time limitations

Other (please specify)

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* 10. In your view, are there any limitations to the diagnostic tests you are currently using?

Cost per animal

Time

Accuracy

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Are you involved in any, or interested in any industry incentives for mastitis monitoring?

Yes

Please state which incentive you are involved or interested in

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* 12. What would you expect the value of an on-farm mastitis test to be?

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* 13. What do you think are the main barriers to adopting new technology on-farm? Please Rank the following in order of importance to you – starting with most important.

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* 14. What would motivate you to adopt a new solutions or technologies on your farm? Tick all that apply

Support/ advice from trusted advisor e.g. Vet

Improved productivity

Improve profitability

Improve health and welfare

Improved sustainability

Funding/ grants

Seeing other farmers use them in practice

Other (please specify)