On this episode we sit down with Dr. Joan Dean Rowe from the University of California - Davis and Dr. Roselle (Rosie) Busch from the University of California's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources to discuss strategies for maintaining and improving udder health during the dry period. Topics of conversation include a basic overview of the physiology of a goat's lactation and dry period; discussion of dry-off protocols and considerations for which strategy to apply to a given herd; the National Mastitis Council's Five-Point Mastitis Control Plan, its effects on the bovine dairy industry, and how it can be applied to dairy goat production; considerations for intramammary dry-off antimicrobial use in dairy goats; overview of the Iowa State University/UC Davis dry tube research project.Helpful Links:National Mastitis Council's Five-Point Plan: https://www.nmconline.org/2018/02/06/nmc-speakers-address-the-five-point-mastitis-control-plan/#:~:text=NMC's%20five%20points%20include%3A%20post,maintenance%20and%20culling%20problems%20cows.Order form for the Dairy Goat Production Handbook (Langston University): http://www.luresext.edu/sites/default/files/DGPHorderform_1stEdition_case_spiral.pdfThis podcast is sponsored by the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners as well as USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agricultural and Food Research Initiative Competitive Program, Antimicrobial Resistance grant # 2020-04197.Questions or comments about today's episode can be directed to DairyGoatExtension@iastate.edu