FAC35: Mastitis Control Measures Flashcards
Which cows are most affected by summer mastitis?
Dry cows and heifers
What is the cause of summer mastitis?
Mechanical transmission via head fly
Bacter involved:
- Trueperella pyogenes
- Peptostreptococcus indolicus
- Streptococcus dysgalactiae
What does summer mastitis look like?
Udder secretion is thick, clotted, and pus
The quarter is swollen, painful, hard, and hot
Most cases lead to permanent damage of the quarter
How do you treat summer mastitis?
Parentral antibiotic injections
Intramammary antibiotics
NSAID injections
Stripping of udder to remove pus/clots
Remove from other cows in group
How do you control against summer mastitis?
Reduce exposure
Fly control
Sealing of teat canal
Dry cow therapy
What are the general principles of control?
- Reduce reservoirs of infection (cow/udder and environment)
- Reduce transmission/spread of infection
- Improve defence mechanisms (Teat and udder)
What are the five/six point mastitis control plan?
- Regular milking machine maintenance
- Post-milking teat disinfection
- Dry cow therapy
- Prompt treatment and recording of clinical cases
- Culling of chronic cases
- Correct milking routine
How does the milking machine affect the development of mastitis?
- They act as a fomite
- They do damage to the teat end
- The impact colonisation of the teat canal (impact forces caused by liner slip)
- Overmilking
What are the aims of post-milking teat disinfection?
- Removal of mastitis pathogens from teat skin
- Removal of bacteria from teat sores
- REduces new infection rate
- Improving teat skin quality
What are the disadvantages of post-milking teat disinfection?
- No effect on existing infections
- Mainly effective versus contagious mastitis pathogens
- May lead to teat irritation
- Inactivated by organic matter (milk/faeces)
What are the aims of pre-milking teat disinfection?
- Disinfect the teat to reduce contamination of the machine
- Reduce the number of bacteria in the milk
- Reduce the incidence of environmental mastitis
Describe the method of application for a pre-milking teat disinfection.
Foremilk > wash teat > dry> apply> allow 30 seconds contat time > wipe off to prevent residues in milk
What are the different application methods for teat disinfection?
Dip
Spray
What are the aims regarding mastitis during the dry cow period?
Treat and cure existing infections and prevent new infections (especially environmental pathogens since teat canal closure during the dry period is not very efficient)
What type of antibiotics should you use during dry cow therapy?
Most produces have good efficacy against gram positive
