Investigation of Mastitis Flashcards
What is the target for number of cases of clinical mastitis per year?
30 cases/100 cows/year
What is very important in monitoring mastitis cases?
Must keep accurate records
What does the recorded number of clinical cases indicate?
The incidence, which is the number of cases recorded over a given time period.
What is an alternative target for mastitis?
<200,000cells/ml in bulk milk
What does the SCC indicated in terms of mastitis?
The prevalence - indicated proportion of quarters that are infected on the day of sampling
In the UK, what SCC is not fit for human consumption?
> 400,000cells/ml
When you know you have a case of mastitis, what do you next need to decide?
If it is contagious, environmental or both.
How can you look for mastitis problem cows?
In records look for:
- Repeat cases (3> lactation)
- Persistent high SCC
- Drug treatments
What are your options for dealing with problem mastitis cows?
- Cull
- Isolate into problem group
- Milk separately
- House separtely - Treat
- Bacteriology
- Identify affected quarter using CMT
- ABs
How would you approach a farm with mastitis issues?
- Look at records
- Check milking routine
- Check 5 point plan
- Look at environment
What is the 5 point plan in mastitis?
- Early detection and treatment
- Post milking teat dipping
- Use dry cow AB therapy
- Culling persistent cows
- Good maintenance of milking machine
What do you need to look for in the environment in mastitis cases?
Look at the cows
Cow cleanliness (look at teats)
Cubicles –> enough room to lie down and clean
How often are the mucked out
What does the Bactoscan indicate?
The number of bacteria in the milk…
What is the Bactoscan:
- Requirement
- Target
- <50,000/ml
2. <20,000/ml
What are the 4 sources of bacteria in milk?
- Mastitis
- Contamination from faeces at milking
- Milking machine dirty
- Failure to refrigerate bulk milk
