A Co Kildare based veterinary diagnostic company has signed an agreement for the worldwide distribution of an early detection system for mastitis in dairy cattle.
Mastitis is the most serious disease in dairy cattle and the industry loses almost £50 billion a year to it in lost yield. The market for early-warning tests is worth about £100 million per year.
Tridelta Ltd, whose laboratories are based in Maynooth, signed the agreement with the UK based dairy equipment manufacturer Ambic Equipment. Ambic will pay an undisclosed sum to help develop the technology, in return for the worldwide distribution rights.
Tridelta's early test for the detection of mastitis can pinpoint which quarter of the cow's udder is causing the problem, allowing early specific treatment of the animal and a rapid return to productivity. The test can be carried out without the need for a blood sample, as it requires only a few drops of milk.
Tridelta has already developed a prototype, based on its own "Phase" technology. The joint development agreement will produce a range of tests which farmers will be able to use to diagnose both subclinical and clinical forms of mastitis.
Early accurate and cost-effective tests for mastitis will afford major cost savings to the industry, according to Tridelta. The aim is to provide the industry with the ability to control the major financial losses caused by the disease and to improve the overall health and welfare of dairy cattle.
According to Mr Brian Hett, managing director of Tridelta, Ambic was chosen as a partner because of its worldwide distribution network and its reputation in the dairy industry.
"We anticipate this venture being the first of many ventures with Ambic, who are already evaluating another Tridelta assay that measures the immune status of new-born calves."
