Bacterial growth in whey from mastitic and nonmastitic quarters

Growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was analyzed by turbidometry in 456 selected whey samples. The samples had been graded mastitic or nonmastitic as determined by antitrypsin assay and bacteriologic examination. Whey samples from inflamed quarters (antitrypsin increased) and infected quarters significantly promoted bacterial growth as compared with whey samples from control quarters. The growth-stimulatory effect was limited to the diseased quarters, since control quarters from the same animals did not support enhanced bacterial growth. The observations indicate that in chronic mastitis, the inflammatory process leads to changes in the whey that promote bacterial growth in vitro.     

Sawfly poisoning in sheep and goats

In September 1984 some sheep in a flock of 250 suffered depression, anorexia, incoordination and difficulty in rising; 50 ewes and weaners died. Post mortem examination revealed petechial bleeding, massive acute liver necrosis and in some animals degeneration of the kidney tubules. The rumen and gut contained many larvae of the blue-black birch sawfly (Arge pullata). Laboratory and field observations indicated that these were the cause of the illness.