mastitis

Question 1

When is a cow most susceptible to mastitis

Answer 1

When in her lactation cycle- just before calving

Question 2

Elements of innate immunity of the cow in relation to mastitis

Answer 2

Protects immediately
Primary and non-specific

Anatomy of the teat and teat end
Teat canal, keratin

Soluble defences
Lactoferrin

Cellular
Macrophages, neutrophils
“Somatic cells” (SCC)

Question 3

How do environmental bacteria that cause mastitis

Answer 3

Opportunistic invaders
Come from the cow’s environment- risk can be reduced by controlling this but it is harder to control than contagious
Includes S. uberis

Question 4

How do contagious bacteria cause mastitis

Answer 4

Adaption to the mammary gland
Can cause persistent infection
Spread between cows at milking
Around 15% of isolated Staphylococcus aureus is resistant to penicillin

Question 5

Importance of cow somatic cell count (SCC) data in controlling mastitis

Answer 5

Herds that pay for “milk recording” services
Regular (monthly) cow SCC results
Can use specialist software to “track” likely infection status for each cow in the herd
…and work out if new infection rates are falling….or increasing

Question 6

How to control the dry cow environment to reduce mastitis

Answer 6

Increase frequency to which CLEAN and DRY bedding material is put into the loose yards from three times weekly to DAILY

Question 7

How to control the milking parlour environment to reduce mastitis

Answer 7

Implement full PRE-MILKING teat disinfection routine, to include 30 second contact time with disinfectant and wipe dry

Question 8

How to reduce mastitis

Answer 8

Prevention and control of mastitis in dairy herds often about reducing pathogen infection pressure
…from the cow’s environment
…through improvements in milking routine and milking machine function

Also talk about improving cow immunity, generally though improved nutrition (energy, vitamin and mineral suppl)