27–28 May 2025, National Centre for Animal Health. The National Centre for Animal Health (NCAH), in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Centre (NDDC) and the Fleming Fund (FF), successfully conducted a two-day Dairy Practitioner Engagement Workshop on 27–28 May 2025 at PemaKarpo Hotel, Wangdue.
The workshop was organized under the Fleming Fund Country Grant Phase 2. It brought together resource persons from the National Centre for Animal Health, Regional Livestock Development Centres, Regional Veterinary Hospital and Epidemiology Centre, National Dairy Development Centre, the Fleming Fund Regional Grant -AMROH SA, along with participants comprising livestock supervisors from 14 districts, three government farms, and NDDC. This diverse representation created a platform for inter-district exchange of knowledge and experiences, allowing participants to share practical challenges and successful approaches in mastitis detection, treatment, and prevention. This open dialogue enriched the learning process and contributed to a more harmonized and locally adapted strategy for mastitis control and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) management in the dairy sector.
Participants gained valuable insights into mastitis and AMR, including surveillance data from the ongoing mastitis surveillance and corresponding antibiotic resistance profiles. They were trained to perform field-level screening of mastitis using the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and on proper procedures for milk sampling and shipment to the laboratory, which is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
A brief mastitis management guideline and a set of key skills for farmers were developed during the workshop. Importantly, participants explored the correlation between field cases of mastitis and laboratory-generated data which is an essential step toward determining appropriate treatment and prevention methods.
This engagement was a crucial step in strengthening field-level capacities and promoting the rational use of antimicrobials, supporting Bhutan’s broader One Health strategy for AMR containment. The trained group of livestock supervisors are now better equipped to cascade the knowledge to dairy farmers and field colleagues, particularly on the importance of early detection and effective prevention of mastitis.
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