Revolutionizing Dairy Farming With HyCare

How DryCare Plus Transformed Stall Hygiene and Mastitis Outcomes at GE Bernard At the beginning of 2024, Madame Pinard, owner of GE Bernard 2009 inc. transitioned her 55-cow free stall herd to MS Schippers DryCare Plus, seeking better moisture control and improved stall hygiene. Prior to this change, the farm used a competitor drying agent once or twice weekly without seeing the udder health improvements they needed.

Before DryCare Plus: High SCC, Mastitis Pressure, and Lost Premiums

Before the switch, SCC levels sat between 350,000 and 400,000 cells/ml, which prevented the farm from receiving the somatic cell bonus. Mastitis pressure was also high, with five to six cull cows per year due to mastitis and nine to twelve Klebsiella mastitis cases requiring treatment annually. Although a competitor drying agent was being applied one to two times per week, stall conditions did not improve enough to change these results.

After the Transition: Noticeable Improvements in Udder Health

DryCare Plus quickly delivered noticeable results. Its over 200 percent absorption capacity, combined with the disinfecting action of Kiemkill, helped reduce environmental bacterial pressure in the stalls. SCC dropped to 125,000 cells/ml, annual mastitis culls fell to one cow per year, and overall stall hygiene improved, restoring eligibility for the SCC bonus.

Application Rate and Annual Use
DryCare Plus is applied twice weekly in 80 stalls, including dry cow areas. This results in an annual usage total of 1,625 kilograms per year (25 kilograms multiplied by 65 bags).

A Clear Return on Investment

Total annual product cost is $2,234.38. With SCC bonuses returning $3,600.00 per year, GE Bernard 2009 inc. achieved a net gain of $1,365.62, in addition to better udder health and fewer mastitis losses.

A Simple Change With Significant Impact
For Madame Pinard, DryCare Plus delivered exactly what her operation needed by creating drier and cleaner stalls, reducing bacterial load, and supporting better udder health across the herd. The improvement in stall hygiene also contributed to more consistent milk quality and a measurable financial return through reduced mastitis losses and regained SCC bonuses. Today, GE Bernard 2009 inc. views DryCare Plus as an essential part of its udder health program, demonstrating how the right drying powder can drive meaningful improvements in both herd health and overall farm profitability.