Dairy cattle
mastitis
is
an inflammatory response
of the udder tissue in the
mammary gland caused due to physical trauma or microorganism infections
. It
is considered the most common disease leading to economic loss in dairy
industries due to reduced yield and poor quality of milk
This disease can be identified by abnormalities in the udder such as:
•
Swelling
•
Heat
•
Redness
•
Hardness
•
or pain (if it is clinical).
Mastitis in dairy cattle
The treatment
and
management
of mastitis, including
drying off
protocols
, surely represents the largest
contributor to the total of
antibiotic
use in dairy production. This is therefore a priority area
for the development and implementation of alternative strategies
that support animal health and milk quality
while minimizing the
use of antibiotics.
Mastitis in dairy cattle
Dry off protocols
Treatment
Treatment is possible with
antibiotics
- such as
penicillin
,
but milk
from such cows is not marketable until drug residues have left the
cow's system. Antibiotics may be
systemic
(injected into the body), or
they may be forced
upwards into the teat
through
the teat canal
(intramammary infusion).
Cows being treated may be marked with tape to alert dairy workers,
and their milk is syphoned off and discarded. To determine whether
the levels of antibiotic residuals are within regulatory requirements,
special tests exist. Vaccinations
for mastitis are available, but as they
only reduce the severity of the condition,
and cannot prevent
reoccurring infections, they should be used in conjunction with a
mastitis prevention program.
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