Dry cow therapy with a non-antibiotic intramammary teat seal - a review

: Dry cow antibiotic therapy is used to eliminate existing intramammary infections and to prevent new infections in the dry period. It is implemented as part of a total management system known as the 'Five-Point Plan' for mastitis control. Recent public concerns over the widespread prophylactic use of antibiotics, coupled with an increasing interest in organic farming, have lead to a re-evaluation of the treatment of cows at drying-off. As a result, attention has focussed on the use of novel alternatives to antibiotic therapy at the end of lactation. One such therapy involves the application of a non-antibiotic bismuth-based intramammary teat seal designed for use in cows with low cell counts at the end of lactation. Like the keratin plug that forms naturally in teats of cows that have been dried-off, teat seal forms a physical barrier to invading pathogens. To date, a number of independent studies have shown that teat seal is as effective as traditional dry cow antibiotic products in preventing the occurrence of new infection during the dry period in cows with somatic cell counts of ≤200,000 cells ml-1 at drying-off. This paper reviews the efficacy of teat seal in preventing dry period mastitis in both conventional and organic dairying systems.     

Management of the dry cow in control of peripartum disease and mastitis.

The dry period has great implications on overall health and productivity in the subsequent lactation. Many anatomic, physiologic, and immunolgic changes are occurring for both the cow and the mammary gland during this time. These changes need to be understood and taken into consideration when assessing and implementing health management programs that involve this crucial time period. Specifically, nutritional and immunologic requirements of the individual cow need to be considered. The occurrence of many peripartum diseases is significantly influenced through nutritional and metabolic parameters that can be strongly influenced, controlled, and monitored in the dry period. From an udder-health perspective, the goal of the dry period can be met by recommending administration of DCT to all quarters of all cows at the end of lactation. As research continues to explore and define shortcomings of this approach and as scrutiny of the prophylactic use of antibiotics increases, however, novel approaches to preventing and eliminating IMI may become more readily available. These approaches offer new methods to improve upon and redefine what should be realistic goals of the dry period and afford an opportunity for continued improvement of udder health in today's dairy herds.     

Incidence of intramammary infections during the dry period without or with antibiotic treatment in dairy cows--a quantitative analysis of published data

The study was aimed at summarising the literature that compares the incidence levels of spontaneously occurring intramammary infections (IMI) during the dry period, without versus with antibiotic dry cow treatment (DCT). A meta-analytic relative risk (RR) calculation was implemented when a priori relevant. Two main categories of comparison were used in the 36 selected papers. In the first category, the udder quarters were randomly allocated (at quarter or cow level) to an untreated or a treated group. Quarter incidence averaged 12.8% (weighted mean) in untreated quarters, and depending on the DCT used, from 6.6 to 8.0% in treated quarters. The meta-analytic RR of new IMI for untreated versus treated quarters varied from 1.54 to 1.94, depending on the DCT used. DCT was mainly found effective against IMI due to streptococci and coagulase-positive staphylococci. Based on only a few papers, the application of an internal teat sealer was associated to a quite similar (or possibly better) protection against IMI than DCT, but only in a subpopulation of particular (selected) cows. In the second category of studies, a selective dry cow or quarter antibiotic-treatment (selective DCT or DQT), according to cow or quarter selection criteria, was compared to blanket DCT. The meta-analytic RR of new IMI was 1.71 for selective DCT versus blanket DCT. Selective DQT seemed to be more at risk than selective DCT, but consisted of treating a much lower proportion of quarters. The summary-results provided by our meta-analysis should only be used with caution, due to possibly low external validity. More research seems to be relevant on the risk factors of new IMI during the dry period to make the outcomes of omission of DCT in selected cows more predictable under field conditions.     

A study of dry cow therapy and effects on SCC in 10 Irish dairy herds

Somatic cell count (SCC) data for 480 cows in 10 Irish dairy herds from January 2001 until June 2002 were analysed. Herds were selected on the basis of a recent or ongoing history of clinical or subclinical mastitis. An individual cow SCC of 200 000 cells per ml was used as the threshold for elevation of SCC. The duration of elevated SCC prior to drying-off and the magnitude of the elevation in SCC were found to have an impact on the response to dry cow therapy (DCT). A trend also emerged indicating that increasing parity had a negative influence on the response to DCT.     

Management factors associated with the incidence of clinical mastitis over the non-lactation period and bulk tank somatic cell count during the subsequent lactation

Aim: To evaluate associations between management decisions related to the control of mastitis, including the infusion of antibiotics at the end of lactation (dry-cow therapy; DCT), on the incidence of clinical mastitis over the non-lactating period and the bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC) in the subsequent lactation. Methods: Dairy herd owners (n=158) provided information via a retrospective survey about (a) the proportion of their herds treated with DCT; (b) DCT management, including: number of occasions on which cows were dried off; manipulation of feed and water intake around drying off; infusion technique (partial vs full depth insertion of cannula); and hygiene before and after DCT infusion; (c) occurrence of mastitis and frequency of occurrence following drying off and in the subsequent lactation; (d) number of cows culled for mastitis-related conditions; (e) reasons for culling; (f) incidence of clinical mastitis; and (g) stock purchase policy with regard to mastitis. The BTSCC for each vat of milk supplied for the 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 seasons, and records of antibiotic purchases were collated for each herd. The probability that >2% of cows within a herd were diagnosed with clinical mastitis over the dry period was initially examined using univariate analysis (i.e. chi2 or logistic regression) and associated factors (p<0.2) were offered to a reverse stepwise logistic regression model. Factors hypothesised as being associated with the average lactation log10 BTSCC for the 2000/2001 season were initially examined using univariate analysis (i.e. ANOVA or linear regression analysis) and associated factors (p<0.2) were then tested using a forward manual model-building approach. Results: Increasing the percentage of the herd treated with DCT at the end of lactation was associated with reduced probability that >2% of a herd would be diagnosed with clinical mastitis over the non-lactating period and with a lower BTSCC in the subsequent lactation (p<0.01). A lower BTSCC was associated with small herds (<150 cows; p<0.05), not reducing feed intake around drying off (p<0.05), checking for clinical mastitis over the dry period in the milking parlour rather than at pasture (p<0.05), partial insertion of the DCT cannula (p<0.01), and use of 'change in udder shape' during lactation as a diagnostic criterion for mastitis (p<0.05). The incidence of clinical mastitis over the dry period was positively associated with reduced feeding around drying off (p=0.05) and the estimated volume of milk being produced at the time of drying off (p=0.014). Conclusions: Use of dry cow therapy was associated with fewer cases of clinical mastitis over the non-lactating period and reduced BTSCC over the subsequent lactation. Reduced BTSCC was also associated with smaller herds, use of partial (compared with full depth) insertion of the DCT cannula, not reducing feed intake at the time of drying off, checking for clinical mastitis over the dry (non-lactation) period in the milking parlour, and use of udder shape for diagnosis during lactation. Control of clinical mastitis and BTSCC involves a range of management practices that need to be used in conjunction with DCT. Keywords: Dairy cows, mastitis, dry-cow therapy, somatic cell count, management practices.     

The prophylactic effect of a teat sealer on bovine mastitis during the dry period and the following lactation

AIM: To determine the prophylactic efficacy of a teat sealer, administered at drying off, in reducing new intramammary infections in the dry period and the following lactation. METHODS: A total of 528 cows with late lactation somatic cell counts <2 00,000 cells/ml was identified in three commercial herds. Of these, bacteriological examination showed 482 cows were uninfected in all four quarters and 46 were infected in only one quarter. At drying off, uninfected quarters were randomly allocated to the following treatments: no infusion (negative controls), infusion with a bismuth subnitrate based teat sealer, infusion with teat sealer + antibiotic, or infusion with a cephalonium-based dry cow antibiotic (positive control). New infections were identified during the dry period by periodic udder palpations and at calving by bacteriological culture. RESULTS: All three infused treatments reduced the incidence of new intramammary infections due to Streptococcus uberis, both during the dry period and at calving, by about 90% (p <0.01). The majority of the infections were due to Streptococcus uberis. For all treatments, a 50% lower incidence of clinical mastitis over the first 5 months of the ensuing lactation was reported by farmers. X-ray imaging of 19 teats showed that the teat sealer material was retained, at least in part, in the lower teat sinus over about 100 days of the dry period. CONCLUSIONS: Closure of the teat canal from day one of the dry period as achieved by the teat sealer was as effective in reducing new dry period infections as the infusion of a long-acting dry cow antibiotic formulation. The lower incidence of new infections in the ensuing lactation among the infused quarters implies that fewer subclinical infections persisted from the dry period. Use of teat sealers at drying off appears to offer the same prophylactic efficacy as the dry cow antibiotic approach.     

Strategies for mastitis control: dry cow therapy and culling

SUMMARY The effects of three selection strategies for dry cow therapy on prevention of new infections and rate of antibiotic usage were compared. Quarter infection status of 1044 cows in 12 herds was determined by bacteriological methods at drying off, calving and three to five months into the following lactation. Cows that were uninfected at drying off were randomly allocated to treatment (whole udder, dry cow therapy) and non-treatment groups. Infected cows were randomly allocated to whole udder or infected quarter only treatments. The strategies compared were blanket treatment (treat all quarters of all cows), selective cow treatment (treat all quarters of any cow infected in one or more quarters) and selective quarter treatment (treat infected quarters only). Selective cow treatment was identified as the preferred strategy. Blanket treatment resulted in increased antibiotic usage (15.5 vs 6.4 tubes per infection eliminated) with no additional benefit, and selective quarter treatment resulted in a higher new infection rate (6.4%vs 3.9% quarters) in the dry period. The prevalence of infection within a herd at drying off had no influence on new infection rates in the dry period or early lactation. The cure rate after dry cow treatment (mean of 66%) decreased significantly with increasing age (P < 0.001). Cows infected in the previous lactation contributed over 76% of infections at calving and nearly 70% at mid-lactation. To lower the incidence of mastitis in a herd, a greater emphasis on culling of older infected cows and prevention of new infections during lactation is needed.     

The prophylactic effect of a dry-cow antibiotic against Streptococcus uberis

The prophylactic use of a dry-cow antibiotic for reducing the incidence of mastitis due to Streptococcus uberis was studied in four seasonally calving dairy herds involving 378 cows. The treatment was a long-acting dry-cow antibiotic preparation administered immediately after the last milking of lactation. New intramammary infections were identified by comparing the bacteriological status of quarters at drying off with that after calving, or through manual udder palpation during the dry period. The administration of dry-cow antibiotic to uninfected quarters at drying off reduced the overall incidence of new infections with Streptococcus uberis from 12.3% for untreated quarters to 1.2% of quarters (p<0.01). The reduction was significant (p<0.01) for both dry-period and post-calving infections. The susceptibility of uninfected quarters to new infection by Streptococcus uberis appeared to be unrelated to the infection status of a cow at drying off. Clinical infections during the dry period were most prevalent (97%) in quarters identified as having open teat canals. Fewer open teat canals (p<0.05) were observed among antibiotic treated quarters over the first 4 weeks of the dry period. Treated quarters had a lower (p<0.05) incidence of new clinical infection during the ensuing lactation and lower somatic cell counts. This did not affect production levels of milk, milk fat or protein. The results clearly indicated a prophylactic benefit for the dry cow antibiotic treatment against new Streptococcus uberis infections during the dry period.     

Dry cow nutrition. The key to improving fresh cow performance

Evidence supports the concept of the dry period being a critical component to lactation preparation rather than an insignificant rest period between lactations. Required nutrient amounts for the dry cow are the sum of maintenance, pregnancy, and reserve replenishment needs with additional requirements for growth during the first two pregnancies. Maintenance energy requirements can be dramatically increased by level of activity and adverse environmental conditions. A wide variety of feed ingredients can be successfully fed to dry cows as long as rations are appropriately formulated to meet energy, protein, mineral, and vitamin requirements. A early and close-up dry program best matches increasing pregnancy requirements and declining intake capacity with management capabilities. The early dry cow ration is formulated for high fiber/low energy density while the close-up ration contains higher energy density with less fiber. Both rations contain sufficient other nutrients based on determined intake. This two-group system provides maximal flexibility in managing for optimum body condition at calving. Environmental stresses and dramatic dietary changes should be minimized during the transition period from late gestation to lactation. A sound dry cow program results from integration of quality nutrition and cow management practices as described. A dry cow program that enacts these guidelines should result in reduced incidence of clinical mastitis, successfully complete pregnancy with a viable calf, maximize genetic potential for milk production, minimize incidence of health disorders, and allows cows to breed back within an economically optimum time interval. Overall, a sound dry cow program is a critical key to improved fresh cow performance.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of mastitis pathogens from first lactation and older cows

Increasing antimicrobial resistance has become a serious concern worldwide and antimicrobial use in animal agriculture is currently under scrutiny. Mastitis is the most common reason for antibiotic use in dairy herds and thus, antimicrobial resistance of mastitis pathogens has received recent attention. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare antimicrobial susceptibility of mastitis pathogens isolated at calving from first lactation and older cows. A total of 202 bacteria were isolated from intramammary infections (IMIs) within 3 days after calving over a 16-month study period in the Krauss Dairy Research Herd at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) in Wooster, OH. Of these IMIs, 78% were caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). Forty-four percent of them were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Most resistance was observed against penicillin, 39% of the isolates from older cows and 26% from first lactation cows being resistant to penicillin (P > 0.05). Also MIC90 for penicillin was higher among isolates from older cows. On the other hand, resistance to tetracycline was more common and MIC90 higher among isolates from first lactation cows than from older cows. Differences in the proportions of resistant isolates between first lactation and older cows were not statistically significant, though. The resistance patterns of the CNS isolated during the study are concordant with antimicrobial usage in the study herd. This is in agreement with the generally accepted notion that selection pressure from the use of antibiotics is a main factor in development of antibiotic resistance.     

The prophylactic effect of a dry-cow antibiotic against Streptococcus uberis

The prophylactic use of a dry-cow antibiotic for reducing the incidence of mastitis due to Streptococcus uberis was studied in four seasonally calving dairy herds involving 378 cows. The treatment was a long-acting dry-cow antibiotic preparation administered immediately after the last milking of lactation. New intramammary infections were identified by comparing the bacteriological status of quarters at drying off with that after calving, or through manual udder palpation during the dry period. The administration of dry-cow antibiotic to uninfected quarters at drying off reduced the overall incidence of new infections with Streptococcus uberis from 12.3% for untreated quarters to 1.2% of quarters (p<0.01). The reduction was significant (p<0.01) for both dry-period and post-calving infections. The susceptibility of uninfected quarters to new infection by Streptococcus uberis appeared to be unrelated to the infection status of a cow at drying off. Clinical infections during the dry period were most prevalent (97%) in quarters identified as having open teat canals. Fewer open teat canals (p<0.05) were observed among antibiotic treated quarters over the first 4 weeks of the dry period. Treated quarters had a lower (p<0.05) incidence of new clinical infection during the ensuing lactation and lower somatic cell counts. This did not affect production levels of milk, milk fat or protein. The results clearly indicated a prophylactic benefit for the dry cow antibiotic treatment against new Streptococcus uberis infections during the dry period.     

Effect of dry period length on the effect of an intramammary teat sealant on the risk of mastitis in cattle treated with antibiotics at drying off

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate, under farm conditions, the use of a teat sealant in addition to whole herd dry cow antibiotic therapy on the risk of clinical mastitis in dairy cattle at pasture, and to evaluate the impact of dry period length on that risk and the impact of the teat sealant on that risk.

METHODS: Dairy cows in three herds which used routine whole herd antibiotic therapy were randomly assigned to receive either treatment with an internal teat sealant (n=322) or no additional treatment (n=313) at drying-off between March and May 2010. All clinical mastitis cases during the dry period and to the end of the subsequent lactation were recorded by farm staff; factors affecting risk of clinical mastitis were then analysed using a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS: Median duration of the dry period was 112 days with >25% of cows having a dry period >130 days. The incidence risk of mastitis during lactation for cows treated with teat sealant was 9.9 (95% CI=6.9–13.7) cases per 100 cows compared with 17.9 (95% CI=13.8–22.6) cases per 100 cows for cows treated with antibiotic alone. The addition of a teat sealant to dry cow antibiotic therapy decreased the risk of clinical mastitis only in the first 33 days after calving (Hazard risk 0.24 (95% CI=0.12–0.48)). Length of dry period did not significantly affect the risk of clinical mastitis, or the effect of adding teat sealant to dry cow antibiotic therapy on the risk of clinical mastitis.

CONCLUSIONS: In these herds where, based on the mastitis history, whole herd antibiotic therapy had been recommended, the use of a teat sealant significantly reduced the risk of clinical mastitis. This effect was limited to the first 33 days after calving; subsequently there was no significant effect of treatment. There was no effect of dry period length on risk of clinical mastitis, nor any significant interaction with treatment.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Combination therapy with teat sealant and antibiotic was effective under New Zealand conditions in herds using whole herd antibiotic treatment at drying off. Teat sealant reduced risk of clinical mastitis in cattle with dry periods substantially longer than 100 days, and there was no evidence that this effect changed as dry period length increased.     

Update on the development of a novel dry cow therapy using a bismuth-based intramammary teat seal in combination with the bacteriocin lacticin 3147

: Public concerns over the widespread prophylactic use of antibiotics have led to a search for alternatives to dry cow therapy for the prevention of intramammary infections. A popular alternative is to infuse a teat seal at drying-off. The teat seal is a viscous non-antibiotic formulation and when it is infused into the teat canal and the teat sinus it forms an internal seal that provides a physical barrier to invasion by mastitis-causing pathogens. Enhancement of teat seal formulations may be achieved using non-antibiotic additives such as bacteriocins, potent proteins produced by some bacteria that have the ability to kill other microorganisms. This paper traces the history of investigations at Moorepark Research Centre into the efficacy of teat seal plus lacticin 3147, a bacteriocin produced by Lactococcus lactis DPC3147, in the prevention of intramammary infections in dry cows. Indications from on-going investigations are that a dry cow formulation combining the two products has considerable potential as a non-antibiotic prophylactic product.     

Effect of treatment with an internal teat sealant at drying-off in cows wintered on forage crops in New Zealand on clinical mastitis and somatic cell counts

AIMS: To determine the impact of treatment with internal teat sealant (ITS) compared to no treatment at drying-off on the incidence of clinical mastitis (CM) during the dry period and 84 days after calving, and the prevalence of cows with somatic cell counts (SCC) ≥200,000?cells/mL at the first lactation herd test, for cows wintered on forage crops.

METHODS: In four dairy herds in the South Island of New Zealand, cows with no history of CM or individual SCC >100,000?cells/mL during the 2015–16 season were randomly assigned to treatment with ITS in each quarter (ITS group) at drying-off or no treatment (Control group). Cows were otherwise treated similarly, wintered on forage crops and transferred to pasture for calving and lactation. Cows were monitored over the dry period and for 84 days after calving, and any case of CM recorded. Individual SCC were recorded at the first herd test after calving.

RESULTS: Between drying-off and 84 days after calving 36/470 (7.7%) cows in the ITS groups and 73/442 (16.5%) cows in the Control group were diagnosed with CM (RR=0.46; 95% CI=0.26–0.73). The final multivariable logistic regression model included an interaction between treatment group and length of dry period. For a Friesian/Jersey cow, aged 4–8 years, with a dry period of 30–80 days, dried off without ITS, the probability of CM in the study period was 0.12 (95% CI=0.09–0.16), and for such a cow treated with ITS the probability was 0.07 (95% CI=0.05–0.10). For an equivalent cow, with a dry period of 81–140 days, which was untreated, the probability was 0.21 (95% CI=0.14–0.29), and for such a cow treated with ITS it was 0.05 (95% CI=0.02–0.11). At the first herd test after calving 77/383 (20.1%) cows in the Control group and 57/425 (13.4%) cows in the ITS group had SCC ≥200,000?cells/mL (RR=1.51; 95% CI=1.10–2.06).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For these farms, treatment of cows with no history of elevated SCC or CM with ITS at drying-off halved the incidence of CM between drying-off and 84 days after calving, and reduced by 33% the proportion of cows with SCC≥200,000 at the first herd test after calving, compared with untreated cows. Treatment with ITS reduced the risk of CM proportionally more for cows with a dry period of 81–140 days than for cows with a shorter dry period.     

Persistence of antibiotics in bovine mammary secretions following intramammary infusion at cessation of milking

A study was conducted to determine the persistence of antibiotic preparations for use in nonlactating cows in bovine mammary secretions following intramammary infusion at cessation of milking. Five commercially available antibiotic formulations were evaluated using 311 cows. All quarters of each cow were sampled once only during the nonlactating period and most cows were sampled at or near parturition. Antibiotic residues were detected qualitatively by the Bacillus stearothermophilus disc assay. Great variation between different antibiotics in persistence in mammary secretion was observed. In general, mammary secretions from most mammary glands infused with cloxacillin or penicillin-dihydrostreptomycin were positive at 28–35 days after infusion and some were positive at 42–49 days after infusion. On the other hand, <13% of mammary secretions at 7 days after infusion of novobiocin and 50% of mammary secretions at 14 days after infusion of penicillin-novobiocin were positive for antibiotics. Cephapirin benzathine persisted for about 21 days after infusion. Some samples that were positive for antibiotics after initial testing were negative following heating of samples, suggesting that component(s) of dry secretion can inhibit growth of B. stearothermophilus and influence the interpretation of results. Colostrum samples from all quarters except one were negative for antibiotics. These data suggest that nonlactating-cow antibiotic formulations persist primarily during the early to mid-nonlactating period. Based upon present methods of formulation, it would appear that antibiotic preparations for use in nonlactating cows most likely provide little protection during the periparturient period, at a time when mammary glands are highly susceptible to new intramammary infections.     

A descriptive epidemiological study of mastitis in 12 Irish dairy herds

: Factors relating to the occurrence of mastitis were studied on 12 Irish dairy herds with histories of elevated somatic cell count (SCC) and/or increased incidence of clinical mastitis cases. Milk recording data were analysed, housing conditions and calving areas were examined; dry cow therapy, clinical mastitis records, milking technique and aspects of milking machine function were assessed.Herds with a ratio of less than 110 cubicles per 100 cows were more likely to experience environmental mastitis. Herds with inadequate calving facilities, where cows spent prolonged periods on straw bedding, were likely to acquire environmental mastitis. In the majority of the herds, the selection of dry cow therapy lacked adequate planning. The majority of farmers took no action to reduce pain experienced by cows suffering mastitis. Deficiencies in parlour hygiene were evident in all herds experiencing elevation in SCC.     

Comparison of cephalonium alone and in combination with an internal teat sealant for dry cow therapy in seasonally calving dairy cows

AIM: To assess the effect of combining an internal teat sealant (ITS) and a long-acting cephalonium-based dry cow therapy (DCT) on the prevalence of cows with a somatic cell count (SCC) >150,000 cells/mL 60–80 days after calving, and the incidence of clinical mastitis diagnosed by farm staff in the first 100 days after calving.

METHODS: Cows from a spring-calving, pasture-based, dairy farm in the South Canterbury region of New Zealand were randomly allocated to receive cephalonium DCT (n=289) or cephalonium and internal teat sealant (n=304) at the end of lactation. Cows were inspected twice daily by farm staff during the dry period and following calving for signs of mastitis. Individual SCC were determined from herd tests conducted in the previous lactation and following calving. Logistic regression models were used to determine relationships with the prevalence of cows with a SCC >150,000 cells/mL after calving, and survival analysis was used to model time to the first case of clinical mastitis following calving at the cow and quarter level.

RESULTS: The OR for a cow with a SCC >150,000 cells/mL after calving, including age and individual SCC in the preceding lactation in the model, was 0.53 (95% CI=0.32–0.89) for cows treated with combination therapy compared to cows receiving cephalonium (p=0.017). At the cow level, including age and preceding SCC in the model, the hazard ratio for diagnosis of clinical mastitis by farm staff in the first 100 days of lactation was 0.60 (95% CI=0.39–0.98) for cows treated with combination therapy compared to cows receiving cephalonium (p=0.04). At the quarter level, the hazard ratio for diagnosis of clinical mastitis, with age included in the model, was 0.41 (95% CI=0.23–0.74) for the combination therapy compared to cephalonium alone (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The combination of internal teat sealant and cephalonium DCT was more effective than cephalonium alone at reducing clinical mastitis diagnosed by farm staff in the 100 days after calving, and the prevalence of cows with a SCC >150,000 cells/mL 60–80 days after calving.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study adds to the evidence that the prevention of intra mammary infections throughout the dry period and up to calving by using combination therapy is important in reducing the incidence of farmer-diagnosed clinical mastitis and prevalence of cows with a SCC >150,000 cells/mL 60–80 days after calving.     

Factors affecting somatic cell count in cow bulk tank milk--a case study from Poland

The aim of this paper was a retrospective analysis of factors affecting the somatic cell count (SCC) in cow bulk tank milk. The investigations concerned the year 2000 and were conducted on 212 family dairy farms in the Wielkopolska region (Western Poland). The average herd size was 13.3 cows (ranging from 5 to 48), whereas the mean SCC was 269,000 in 1 cm3 of milk (ranging from 63,000 to 631,000). In the period from July to September a higher SCC (P < or = 0.01) was found than in the other months. In herds of more than 15 cows, higher SCC values (P < or = 0.05) were observed than in the smaller herds. The following management and technological factors significantly decreased SCC: a 7-8-week dry period (versus shorter period), foremilking with the use of a forestripper, practicing manual udder massage before milking, individual rationing of feeds according to production, and the application of MgO and beta-carotene additives to the feed ration.     

Interleukin-1β infusion in bovine mammary glands prior to challenge with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus uberis</Emphasis> reduces bacterial growth but causes sterile mastitis

Dairy cows are especially vulnerable to intramammary infection by the bacterial pathogen Streptococcus uberis in the dry period. Use of immunotherapeutic agents at drying off could increase cellular defences in the gland and prevent establishment of new S. uberis infections. This study investigated the potential of infusing recombinant bovine interleukin-1 beta (rbIL-1beta) in the mammary glands as a prophylactic agent against subsequent intramammary challenge with S. uberis in the early dry period. Immediately after the last milking at commencement of the dry period, one cow from each of 10 monozygous twinsets was infused with 10 microg of rbIL-1beta in two quarters and the other twin was infused with the carrier agent, sterile phosphate buffered saline. Twenty-four hours later, the quarters were infused with 10(3) colony-forming units (CFU) of S. uberis. Bacteriology, somatic cell count (SCC), concentrations of specific cytokines and antibody responses were monitored in mammary gland secretions and sera for the next 21 days. Infusion of rbIL-1beta into mammary glands at commencement of the dry period was associated with less new S. uberis intramammary infections, as determined by the number of quarters with bacterial growth. However, high SCC in quarters following infusion of rbIL-1beta masked the full beneficial effect of this procedure.     

Mastitis prevalence and the selection of dry cow therapy programmes in dairy herds

Sales of intramammary cerates to a group of 142 dairy farms over a period of two years were monitored. On the assumption that three tubes of cerate are used to treat one case of mastitis, an estimate was made of the prevalence of clinical mastitis in these herds. The prevalence in seasonal supply herds was 21 cases per 100 cows per year and the prevalence in town supply herds was 66 cases per 100 cows per year. The usage of dry cow therapy was related to changes in the prevalence of clinical mastitis in these herds. The use of whole-herd therapy reduced the prevalence of clinical mastitis in herds which had a high prevalence in the first year, but in herds with a low prevalence of clinical mastitis the prevalence increased after the use of dry cow therapy.