Rumination down 34% in 18h. RL conductivity 6.9 mS/cm vs 5.1 baseline, climbing 3 days. 61 DIM. Temp 102.4F.
Rumination -36% vs her 10-day baselineRL conductivity 6.9 mS/cm vs 5.1 baseline61 DIM, lactation 3Temp 102.6°F$412 at stake
Organic-approved protocol
She stays in the organic herd
Strip affected quarter 4x/day; milk last, discard milk
Culture sample to lab today — treat to the bug, not the guess
Peppermint udder liniment 2x/day; monitor conductivity per milking
Fluids + aspirin per vet standing order (NOP-allowed)
Success odds, caught this early
~70–80%
Organic premium preserved
$3,687
Antibiotic treatment
Permanent exit from the organic herd
Intramammary antibiotic per vet. Higher single-course cure rate for an established infection — but under NOP rules Clover can never return to organic production. She would move to the conventional string or be sold.
Organic premium lost
−$3,687
$6.72/day × ~549 productive days at 59 lbs/day
Success odds
~85–90%
LEDGER note: under NOP §205.238, a producer may not withhold medical treatment from a sick animal to preserve its organic status. If organic-approved interventions fail, treat — and record the transition. The economics above exist so you decide early, not so you decide never.
