Bovine Mastitis: A Major Health Concern for Dairy Farmers

Bovine Mastitis


 Mastitis refers to the inflammation of the mammary gland in cattle, commonly known as Bovine Mastitis. It is one of the most prevalent and financially damaging diseases affecting the dairy industry globally. According to estimates, mastitis costs the US dairy industry over $2 billion annually in treatment costs and lost milk production. The inflammation is usually caused by bacterial infections, but physical injuries or internal issues can also contribute to the development of mastitis. With proper prevention, early detection, and treatment, dairy farmers can help control and limit losses from this costly disease.


Causes of Bovine Mastitis

Bacteria are the primary cause of mastitis in dairy cows. Some of the common bacterial pathogens that can lead to mastitis include:

- Staphylococcus aureus: One of the most prevalent mastitis-causing bacteria that is contagious and can easily spread from cow to cow.

- Streptococcus agalactiae: A contagious bacterium spread during milking that can cause chronic and recurring mastitis infections.

- Escherichia coli: An environmental bacterium usually causing mastitis after calving when the cow's udder is not fully developed.

- Klebsiella spp: An environmental bacterium commonly recovered from contaminated bedding materials like sand or packed dirt floors in barns.

Apart from bacterial infections, other potential causes of mastitis can be physical injuries, changes in cow management like sudden feed changes, milking equipment issues, and intra-mammary complications. Poor hygiene during milking, overfilled udders, and muddy or unhygienic surroundings also raise the risk of new mastitic infections.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of Bovine Mastitis usually begins with observing the udder and milk of the cow for any abnormal signs. Some common mastitis symptoms visible externally include udder swelling, warmth, pain, and fluctuating milk production. Microbiological culture of milk samples is needed for accurate diagnosis and identification of the causal microorganism.

Once mastitis is diagnosed, prompt treatment is necessary to cure the infection and prevent worsening of symptoms. Antibiotic therapy remains the primary treatment approach based on culture and sensitivity reports. Non-lactating intramammary preparations are administered for 5-7 days. Anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to reduce swelling and pain. Complete cure and milk discard periods vary depending on the infecting bacteria and severity of infection. Re-check cultures are done to confirm recovery.

Mastitis Prevention and Control

Given its significant financial losses to dairy operations, prevention of new mastitis cases and control of existing infections are priorities for farmers. Key prevention and control strategies include:

- Teat dipping: Post-milking teat dipping in antiseptic solutions helps prevent new bacterial infections from spreading via contaminated teat canals.

- Dry cow therapy: Intramammary antibiotic infusions during the dry period help cure existing infections and protect against new ones around calving.

- Milking hygiene: Proper cleaning and sanitization of milking equipment, udder washing, dry wiping are critical to avoid new infections while milking.

- Herd management: Maintaining herd health, proper calving facilities, adequate shelter and stall bedding, nutritional management, and treatment of existing cases can support mastitis control.

- Monitoring and culling: Regular screening of milk for somatic cell counts along with prompt treatment and culling of chronically infected cows.

With diligent implementation of prevention protocols and a swift response to clinical or subclinical cases, the financial impacts of mastitis can be mitigated to a large extent on dairy farms. Monitoring and surveillance also allow timely detection of new outbreaks.

Bovine mastitis remains a widespread production disease adversely impacting dairy farm profitability through treatment costs and reduced milk yields. While bacterial infections are the leading cause, management and environmental factors also contribute to disease risk. A multifaceted approach combining preventive protocols, early diagnostics, judicious antibiotic use, and culling of chronic cases helps optimize mastitis control on dairy operations. With appropriate prevention and control strategies, farmers can minimize consequences and stay on top of this challenging mammary gland inflammatory condition affecting dairy cattle worldwide.

For more details on the report, Read- https://www.marketwebjournal.com/bovine-mastitis-trends-size-and-share-analysis/

 

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