Mastitis

Mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland) is generally considered to be the most prevalent and costly disease facing the dairy industry worldwide.¹ In most European dairy herds up to 50% of lactating cows are affected in one or more of the four secretory quarters of the mammary gland at least once per lactation.² Insufficient udder health in dairy herds may cost around 400€ per mastitis case. Mastitis is responsible for a reduction in milk yield and also adversely effects milk quality. In addition, it leads to increased treatment costs, discarded milk during and after treatment and a higher culling rate.³

The usual cause of mastitis is bacterial infection with pathogens such as Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli. The organisms that cause mastitis can be divided into environmental and contagious pathogens.

Mastitis is still the most common cause of antibiotic use in dairy cows. The old standard mastitis prevention programme or “five points plan” recommended “a prompt and adequate treatment of all cases of clinical mastitis with an effective drug, which aims at reducing the likelihood of new infection by managing exposure and the means of transmission”.⁴ Similarly, the 10 points Mastitis Control Program recommended by the National Mastitis Council, points out the need for an appropriate management of clinical mastitis by using an appropriate therapeutic regimen. The choice of antibiotic(s) should be based on the species of bacteria present, the sensitivity pattern of the identified bacterial species, the penetration of the antibiotic to the actual site of infection and reduction of the risk of developing resistance and toxicity to the animal.⁵

For further information see:
www.ubrocare.com
www.mastitiscalculator.com

References

1 Owens WL, et al. Comparison of success of antibiotic therapy during lactation and results of antimicrobial susceptibility test for bovine mastitis. J. Dairy Sci. 80:313-317.
2 Hillerton JE, et al. Treating mastitis in the cow – a tradition or an archaism. J Appl Microbiol. 98(6):1250-1255.
3 Hogeveen H et al. Mastitis management in an economic framework, in: Proc 4th IDF International Mastitis Conference, Maastricht, The Netherlands. 2005:41-52.
4 Neave FK, et al. Control of mastitis in the dairy herd by hygiene and management. J Dairy Sci. 52:696-707.
5 Whittem T et al. Principles of antimicrobial therapy. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practices 28:197-213.