Milk producers have been warned of the threat of mastitis-causing bacteria in damp straw used for bedding.

Dr Alan Reeve of C&H Nutrition said: "Plenty of straw has been baled damp this year, promoting a favourable environment for the multiplication of harmful mastitis-causing bacteria such as Strep. uberis and E. coli.

"Mastitis caused by environmental bacteria is frequently associated with damp and dirty bedding, as well as inadequate ventilation in the cow accommodation."

He added: "Traditional cattle bedding materials such as straw, sawdust or waste paper improve comfort levels for cows, but research has shown that they also create the perfect warm, moist conditions for harmful bugs to thrive.

"Damp bedding also aids the movement of faeces onto the udder and this promotes a favourable environment for mastitis bacteria."

Reeve explained that cow health and comfort can be significantly improved by using an absorbent bedding conditioner with disinfectant at housing.

Meanwhile, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has disclosed that a serious new antibiotic-resistant superbug has been found on a British dairy farm.

The bug, known as E. coli 026, is a mutant strain similar to the deadly killer E. coli 0157, which can cause life-threatening cases of food poisoning.