California Mastitis Test paddle
California Mastitis Test paddle
CMT Paddle – Essential Tool for Surprising Herd Health Insights
The CMT paddle is a plastic, four-well device used with CMT reagent to detect elevated somatic cell counts (SCC) in individual udder quarters. It’s a quick, cow-side test that flags subclinical mastitis before visible symptoms—or milk changes—emerge.
Multipurpose and easy to clean, this paddle helps pinpoint which quarter is affected, enabling surgical or antibiotic intervention only where needed. It’s a valuable addition to routine milk quality protocols.
✅ Key Benefits
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Drilled design: Four separate wells match cow quarters for precise analysis.
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Durable and reusable: Made from sturdy plastic that resists cracking and is easy to disinfect.
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Efficient testing: Mix foremilk and reagent in each well for a gel reaction in ~10–20 seconds.
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Visual clarity: Works best with purple CMT reagent—clear paddle makes gel levels obvious.
How to Use
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Clean and dry teats, then discard the first few strips of milk.
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Squeeze milk into each of the four wells (~2–5 ml).
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Tilt paddle to drain excess milk—stop when it reaches the outer circle mark.
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Add equal volume of CMT reagent (1:1 ratio).
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Swirl gently for 10–20 seconds, keeping it flat.
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Observe reaction:
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Score 0 = no change (≤200,000 SCC)
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Score T–3 = increasing gel viscosity and somatic cell count.
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When to Test
Use the CMT paddle during:
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Routine milk testing to catch subclinical mastitis
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High herd SCC alerts from lab reports
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Dry-off cow quarters to identify selective antibiotic therapy
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Monitoring treatment effectiveness
Regular use helps prevent bulk tank contamination and maintains milk quality compliance.
