FAC36: Mastitis Approach to Mastitis Problems

Question 1

What are the steps to treat a herd with a high incidence of clinical mastitis?

Answer 1

1. Data collection (records, targets, and bulk tank analysis)
2. Clinical inspection (ID cows, treat, bacteriology, teat end defences)
3. Farm inspection (control measures, 6 point plan, treatment, biosecurity)

Question 2

What are the contagious pathogens that cause mastitis?

Answer 2

Staph aureus

Strep agalactiae

Strep dysgalactia

Question 3

What are the environmental mastitis pathogens?

Answer 3

Strep uberis

E coli

Question 4

Why are straw beds bad for mastitis?

Answer 4

• Bedding wetness
• Require daily maintenance
• Mucking out

Question 5

Besides bedding and cubicle management, what other factors in cow comfort impact mastitis?

Answer 5

Ventilation

Dietary influences

Stocking rates

Clear away waste food and troughs

Avoid stress

Question 6

What are the three ways in which contamination can be reduced at the teat end?

Answer 6

Milking routine

Teat disinfection

Aseptic infusion of intramammary tubes

Question 7

What are the four ways to optimise teat defences?

Answer 7

Milking machine maintenance

Teat end damage care/prevention

Genetic influences

Effective teat seal during the dry period

Question 8

What are the four ways to manage the immune response of the cow to prevent mastitis?

Answer 8

Avoid stress

Dry cow nutrition

Prevent/treat other diseases

Vaccinate

Question 9

What are the different measurements when doing bulk tank analysis?

Answer 9

• Bactoscan: total number of bacteria
• TBC: total number of viable bacteria
• Thermoduric count (LPC): bacteria which can withstand pasteurisation
• Coliform counts: measure of environmental contamination
• Psychrotrop Indicator Value: bacteria which grow at 2-10C commonly found in dust
• Bacterial differential counts

Question 10

What are the different sources of bacteria in milk?

Answer 10

Mastitis pathogens from the udder

Environmental contamination

Dirty milking plant

Poor refrigeration of milk

Question 11

When doing bulk tank analysis, how can you tell your bacteria are from the udder?

Answer 11

• Bactoscan and TBC fluctuate
• High coliform counts are indicative of environmental mastitis

Question 12

How do you prevent bacterial contamination of milk from the udder?

Answer 12

• Early detection of mastitis
• Reduce mastitis incidence
• Keep mastitic milk out of bulk tank

Question 13

When doing bulk tank analysis, how can you tell your bacteria are from the environment?

Answer 13

High psychrotroph indicator value

High coliform counts

Bacterial differential counts

Question 14

How do you prevent environmental contamination of the milk tank?

Answer 14

• Keep cows clean
• Thorough pre-milking teat preparation
• Dry teats before attachment of cluster

Question 15

When doing bulk tank analysis, how can you tell your bacteria are from the dirty milking plant?

Answer 15

High thermoduric count (LPC)

High bactoscan and TBC

Question 16

How do you prevent contamination of the milk from the dirty milking plant?

Answer 16

Correct temperature

Correct strength fo detergent

Adequate volume of wash solution

Question 17

When doing bulk tank analysis, how can you tell your bacteria are from poor refrigeration of milk?

Answer 17

High psychrotroph indicator value

High bactoscan

Question 18

How do you prevent contamination of the milk from poor refrigeration of milk?

Answer 18

Ensure milk cooled immediately to 4C

Question 19

What are the benefits of a mastitis control programme?

Answer 19

Increase milk revenue

Decrease replacement rates of cow

Reduced treatment of clinical cases

Question 20

What are the costs of a mastitis control programme?

Answer 20

Minimal - it is easily incorporated into Hear Health Plans