Mastitis From Start to Finish: Featured Videos

Mastitis is one of the more renowned health issues for dairy cattle. Affecting cattle health, production, and milk quality, mastitis can have a huge economic impact on a dairy. To learn more about mastitis, from how it starts, to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, view this curated selection of past DAIReXNET webinars, now available on YouTube for your convenience. Don’t want to miss a video from DAIReXNET? Head over to our channel and subscribe!

 

Managing Somatic Cell Counts

First, you’ll hear …

Responsible Use of Antibiotics for Treatment of Clinical Mastitis


Introduction

Mastitis is the most common disease of dairy cows and the most common reason that cows are treated with antibiotics (Pol and Ruegg, 2007; Saini et al., 2012). Mastitis is a bacterial infection of the udder which causes inflammation (host defenses responding to the infection). Clinical mastitis occurs when the inflammatory response is strong enough to cause visible changes in the milk (clots, flakes), the udder (swelling), or the cow (off feed or fever). Most clinical mastitis cases are …

Vaccination against Staphylococcus aureus Mastitis in Dairy Cattle


robotic milking machine

This article is part of our series of original articles on emerging featured topics. Please check here to see other articles in this series.

Staphylococcus aureus Mastitis

Staphylococcus aureus is a major mastitis pathogen because it can be highly contagious and have a significant impact on farm income. S. aureus primarily causes subclinical intramammary infections (IMI) that often become chronic. It also has a negative economic impact from increased milk somatic cell counts (SCC) and decreased milk production. However, there …

On-Farm Culture: Role in Mastitis and Impact on Antimicrobial Use


Introduction

Mastitis is the most common and costly infectious disease of dairy cattle worldwide and is most frequently bacterial in origin (Erskine et al., 2003; Halasa et al., 2007). As a result, it is also the most common reason for antibiotic use in the Canadian dairy industry, accounting for more than half of all the antibiotics used by dairy producers (Leger et al., 2003). In a Wisconsin study involving 20 conventional dairy herds, approximately 80% of all antimicrobial drug use …

Antimicrobial Resistance: Implications for Human and Animal Health on Dairy Farms


Introduction

Antimicrobial resistance is a major concern to physicians, veterinarians, producers, and consumers worldwide because resistance can render some diseases such as mastitis untreatable. Antimicrobial resistance is most often determined in vitro (on the bench top) by either a disk diffusion method or a broth microdilution method. By using these methods and correlating the results with clinical outcomes, it can be determined whether a bacterium will likely be susceptible or resistant to treatment when a particular drug is applied in …

Effect of a Pour-On and Fly Tag Insecticide Combination in Controlling Horn Flies and Staphylococcus aureus Mastitis in Dairy Heifers

Introduction

In addition to documented losses in production due to lower weaning weights and reduced milk production in cattle (Kunz et al., 1991), horn flies (Haematobia irritans) have been linked to the occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in dairy and beef heifers (Nickerson et al., 2000; Owens et al., 1998; Owens et al., 2000). These infections can result in chronic cases of mastitis that are refractory to treatment in adult cows and can cause reduced production, increased cull

How to Beat That Summer Heat!


Introduction

When you think about it, dairy producers impose a lot of stress on their cattle. Cows are bred to calve once a year or so; they are pregnant for 9 months and lactating for 10 or more months; they are machine milked 2 to 4 times daily; and we continue to feed and genetically select them to produce even MORE milk. Consequently, as the demands for increasing milk yield and efficiency continue, more and more stress is placed on …

Are U.S. Dairy Farms Ready for a Drop in the SCC Legal Limit?


Introduction

With a potential reduction in the legal limit for bulk tank somatic cell counts looming in the future to improve milk quality, how well have U.S. producers adopted mastitis control technologies?

Mastitis remains a major livestock disease for U.S. dairy producers, with losses of approximately $2 billion/year. To comply with global quality standards, consumer demand, and exportation requirements, the dairy industry is striving to improve product quality. To make this a reality, it is likely that the legal limit …

Escherichia coli—A Practical Summary for Controlling Mastitis


Introduction

The implementation of control measures for contagious mastitis pathogens has successfully reduced the prevalence of these organisms in U.S. dairy herds. However, the control of environmental pathogens remains a daunting task. Escherichia coli (E. coli) are Gram-negative bacteria, similar in structure to Klebsiella spp. E. coli mastitis is typically associated with a quick onset and often severe clinical signs.

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Klebsiella spp.—A Practical Summary for Controlling Mastitis


Introduction

The implementation of control measures for contagious mastitis pathogens has successfully reduced the prevalence of these organisms in U.S. dairy herds. However, the control of environmental pathogens remains a daunting task. Klebsiella spp. are Gram-negative bacteria, similar in structure to Escherichia coli. The most common mastitis-causing species are Klebsiella pneumoniae andKlebsiella oxytoca. However, treatment and control is similar for all species of Klebsiella.

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