Mastitis
Prevention
A well functioning milking machine prevents injuries to the utter and/or teats. When injuries occur, an opportunity is created for (opportunistic) bacteria to infiltrate the udder easily.
Farm health management
Hygiene management - milking
Since transferring of the pathogenic bacteria causing mastitis mainly occurs during milking, hygienic milking routines are important; those can consists of applying a pre-milking teat dip or spray; such as tea tree oil, Japanese mint oil or iodine spray; and wiping dry teats prior to milking.
After milking, the teats can be cleaned again to remove dirt and to prevent bacteria (including own-bacteria and bacteria acquired during milking) to grow. This cleaning can be done with tea tree oil, Japanese mint oil or iodine spray as well. With using wipes, use only one wipe per cow, to prevent further infection.
Other hygiene measurements in order to reduce the transfer of bacteria, is cleaning the milking stalls with hot water (> 75 ° C) after use. To prevent transmission of infection, milk infected cows latest: a labor-intensive job.
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Hygiene management - stable
Spreading lime through the stable ensures less bacterial growth.
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Udder maintenance
Udder hair singeing is advisable because if the hair on the udder is removed the filth out of the stable cannnot easily conect to the udder. Filth on the udder is of risk because the germs out of the filth can enter the udder. With hair singeing of the udder, hair on the udder is removed with a propane torch using a cool flame. The flame is passed quickly under the udder to burn the hair off. In hair singeing of the udder it is important that it is done correctly and thoroughly without burning the skin on the udder or the teats.
Although, the idea of using a flame around the udder of a high production cow may seem strange in the beginning of the innovation. However, in practice this innovation was tested safe, very effective and time saving. Farmers have found hair singeing much more easier then shaving of the udder. The main benefits are taking less investment in equipment and less time. Singeing of the udder can be done at different places in the barn for example the milking parlour or in the feed rack. It only takes a couple of minutes per cow and it needs to be done every 4 and 6 weeks.
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Dry period
On many dairy farms, the dry period is managed poorly; cows being put 'out of sight and out of mind', while the dry period is very important in reducing mastitis incidence in the herd. An hygienic environment helps to get rid of the pathogens causing mastitis.
The early dry period (close-up) is for the drying of the udder and restoration of rumen wall. Therefore, make a ration with little energy and a lot of rich cell wall material. The cows go much rumination which rumen pH rises and the recovers rumen wall itself.
At the end of the dry period (far-off) extra energy can be added with concentrates to feed the calve and to get ready for the new lactation period. (17,18,19,20)
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Natural resistance
The natural resistance is high by prevention of stress, provide enough space in the shed (low herd density) and a proper nutritional management; which means much structure in the ration; it is important to keep the digestive system of the cow in motion. As well as enough providing enough feedstuff to the feedingracks and a good access to the feed (enough feedingracks for all cows). A balanced ration is essential to the cow; with a surplus of high fermentable carbohydrates in the food; like corn, bread and concentrates, do not keep keep the digestive system, and thereby the rumination not working. (21)
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Genetic aspects
Possible problems with udder and teats can be limited by consideration to exterior features, such as: Attachment of the udder;
- Placement of the teats
- Teat length
- Udder Depth
- Suspension Band (22)
Risk factors
Most of time, mastitis occurs after milking because at that point, the
teat holes are still open; it takes around 15 minutes for the holes to close.
This is an ideal opportunity for micro-organisms to infiltrate the teat holes.
When the teats and/or the milking machine is not cleaned properly, bacteria have the change to get to the utter of the cow and into the teat holes. It happens frequently that cows are lying down after milking, whereby the teats are exposed to (often) non-hygienic ground full of bacteria. Especially right after milking (open teats) or in case of damaged udders there is a big change of inflammation at that time.
Main risk factors in mastitis are an lack of hygiene in milking as well as in the rest of the stable. Milk residues or residual pathogens in the milking machine are a direct risk to other –still uninfected- cows. Also infected milk leaked in the cubicles are a direct risk to other cows lying down in it.
High humidity in the stable, especially combined with a warm and dark stable is an ideal place for bacteria to live and to grow. And of course subclinical bacterial carriers, high SCC cows, are a risk for the others; these cows increase the infection pressure in the stable.
Besides hygiene, reduced body condition score (BCS <2.5) and thereby a lower natural resistance; insufficient milk removal; the history of clinical mastitis and malformations in udders like low hanging teats (more contact with environmental mycobacteria) are risk factors to get mastitis.
Although a well-executed and meticulous management is the key factor in reducing mastitis, heredity plays a larger role than was assumed in the past. In the selection, udder health should be taken in to account such as looking to the average SCC in daughters of a certain bull. (22)
When the teats and/or the milking machine is not cleaned properly, bacteria have the change to get to the utter of the cow and into the teat holes. It happens frequently that cows are lying down after milking, whereby the teats are exposed to (often) non-hygienic ground full of bacteria. Especially right after milking (open teats) or in case of damaged udders there is a big change of inflammation at that time.
Main risk factors in mastitis are an lack of hygiene in milking as well as in the rest of the stable. Milk residues or residual pathogens in the milking machine are a direct risk to other –still uninfected- cows. Also infected milk leaked in the cubicles are a direct risk to other cows lying down in it.
High humidity in the stable, especially combined with a warm and dark stable is an ideal place for bacteria to live and to grow. And of course subclinical bacterial carriers, high SCC cows, are a risk for the others; these cows increase the infection pressure in the stable.
Besides hygiene, reduced body condition score (BCS <2.5) and thereby a lower natural resistance; insufficient milk removal; the history of clinical mastitis and malformations in udders like low hanging teats (more contact with environmental mycobacteria) are risk factors to get mastitis.
Although a well-executed and meticulous management is the key factor in reducing mastitis, heredity plays a larger role than was assumed in the past. In the selection, udder health should be taken in to account such as looking to the average SCC in daughters of a certain bull. (22)
List of sources
1. Hunter, F. (2004) Everyday homeopathy for animals, Beaconsfield: Beaconsfield Publishers LTD.
2. D.A.P. Bladel-Hapert (2014) Uierontsteking bij koeien. Available at: < http://www.dapbladelhapert.nl/mastitis.htm > [Accessed 05 June 2014].
3. Handboek uiergezondheid (2014) Celgetal - Wikipedia. Available at: < http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celgetal.> [Accessed 05 June 2014].
4. (2014) Mastitis in dairy cows. Available at: < http://www.dairyco.org.uk/technical-information/animal-health-welfare/mastitis/#.U5Y6QfnV9Fs >. [Accessed 05 June 2014].
5. Lawrence, K. Fox () Mastitis control: the basics. College of veterinary medicine – Washington State University.
6. ( 2014) Opportunism - Wikipedia. Available at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunism#Biological_opportunism. > [Accessed 05 June 2014]
7. Handboek Uiergezondheid (2014) Behandelen: Escherichia coli. Available at: < http://www.handboekuiergezondheid.nl/behandelen/specifiekemastitisverwekkers/escheriacoli > [Accessed 05 June 2014].
8. (2014) Escherichia coli – Wikipedia. Available at: < http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escherichia_coli.> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
9. (2014) Streptokokken - Wikipedia. Available at: <http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptokokken>. [Accessed 05 June 2014]
10. Handboek Uiergezondheid (2014) Behandelen: Staphylococcus aureus. Available at: <http://www.handboekuiergezondheid.nl/behandelen/specifiekemastitisverwekkers/staphylococcusaureus> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
11. (2014) Stafylokokken - Wikipedia. Available at: < http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafylokokken. >[Accessed 05 June 2014]
12. (2014) Sub-clinical mastitis. Available at: <http://www.dairyco.org.uk/technical-information/animal-health-welfare/mastitis/symptoms-of-mastitis/sub-clinical-mastitis/#.U5WzvPnV9Fs> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
13. (2014) Symptoms of Mastitis. Available at: < http://www.dairyco.org.uk/technical-information/animal-health-welfare/mastitis/symptoms-of-mastitis/#.U5W4rPnV9Fs>. [Accessed 05 June 2014].
14. Jones, G.M., (2009) Understanding the basics of mastitis. Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech. Available from: < http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/404/404-233/404-233.html> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
15. Malinowski, E., Gajewski, Z., (2010) Mastitis and fertility disorders in cows. Available from: < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21033574> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
16. Seegers, H., Fourichon, C., Beaudeau, F. (2003) Production effects related to mastitis and mastitis economics in dairy cattle herds. Unit of Animal Health Management, National Veterinary School, France. Available from: < http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/90/27/68/PDF/hal-00902768.pdf > [Accessed 05 June 2014]
17. UGCN. (-). Mastitis. Available: http://www.ugcn.nl/media/default.aspx/emma/org/10647926/samenvatting%20bart%20van%20der%20borne.pdf. [Accessed 05 June 2014]
18. (2014) Pathogens - The cause of mastitis. Available at: < http://www.dairyco.org.uk/technical-information/animal-health-welfare/mastitis/pathogens-the-cause-of-mastitis/#.U5WTdvnV9Fs >. [Accessed 05 June 2014].
19. Levende have. (2013). Mastitis. Available: < http://www.levendehave.nl/kennisbank/runderen/mastitis> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
20. Groot M., Kleijer-Ligtenberg, G., van Asseldonk T., Hansma, H., [2011] Stalboekje Melkvee – Natuurlijk gezond met kruiden en andere natuurproducten. Available from: <http://edepot.wur.nl/162983> [24 May 2014]
21. Finke, E. (2011) Bedrijfsnetwerk op weg naar minder antibiotica. Available from: < http://edepot.wur.nl/185222> [24 May 2014]
22. Ryckaert, I. (-) Levensproductie van melkkoeien. Vlaamse overheid, Departement Landbouw en Visserij, Afdeling Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling. Available from: < http://www2.vlaanderen.be/landbouw/downloads/dier/22.pdf> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
23. Deru, J., Ellinger, L., Baars, T., [2006] Homeopathie bij rundvee een verkenning van behandelingen, succesfactoren en patroonherkenning in het kader van Bioveem – Bioveem Intern Rapport 16. Available from: http://www.centaurea.nl/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Homeopathie-bij-rundvee.pdf [24 May 2014]
24. Werkgroep Veterinair Antibiotica Beleid – KNMVD [2012] Formularia antibiotica from: <http://wvab.knmvd.nl/wvab/formularia/formularia> [24 May 2014]
25. (-). Mastitis in dairy cattle – Wikipedia. Available at: < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastitis_in_dairy_cattle.> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
2. D.A.P. Bladel-Hapert (2014) Uierontsteking bij koeien. Available at: < http://www.dapbladelhapert.nl/mastitis.htm > [Accessed 05 June 2014].
3. Handboek uiergezondheid (2014) Celgetal - Wikipedia. Available at: < http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celgetal.> [Accessed 05 June 2014].
4. (2014) Mastitis in dairy cows. Available at: < http://www.dairyco.org.uk/technical-information/animal-health-welfare/mastitis/#.U5Y6QfnV9Fs >. [Accessed 05 June 2014].
5. Lawrence, K. Fox () Mastitis control: the basics. College of veterinary medicine – Washington State University.
6. ( 2014) Opportunism - Wikipedia. Available at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunism#Biological_opportunism. > [Accessed 05 June 2014]
7. Handboek Uiergezondheid (2014) Behandelen: Escherichia coli. Available at: < http://www.handboekuiergezondheid.nl/behandelen/specifiekemastitisverwekkers/escheriacoli > [Accessed 05 June 2014].
8. (2014) Escherichia coli – Wikipedia. Available at: < http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escherichia_coli.> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
9. (2014) Streptokokken - Wikipedia. Available at: <http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptokokken>. [Accessed 05 June 2014]
10. Handboek Uiergezondheid (2014) Behandelen: Staphylococcus aureus. Available at: <http://www.handboekuiergezondheid.nl/behandelen/specifiekemastitisverwekkers/staphylococcusaureus> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
11. (2014) Stafylokokken - Wikipedia. Available at: < http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafylokokken. >[Accessed 05 June 2014]
12. (2014) Sub-clinical mastitis. Available at: <http://www.dairyco.org.uk/technical-information/animal-health-welfare/mastitis/symptoms-of-mastitis/sub-clinical-mastitis/#.U5WzvPnV9Fs> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
13. (2014) Symptoms of Mastitis. Available at: < http://www.dairyco.org.uk/technical-information/animal-health-welfare/mastitis/symptoms-of-mastitis/#.U5W4rPnV9Fs>. [Accessed 05 June 2014].
14. Jones, G.M., (2009) Understanding the basics of mastitis. Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech. Available from: < http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/404/404-233/404-233.html> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
15. Malinowski, E., Gajewski, Z., (2010) Mastitis and fertility disorders in cows. Available from: < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21033574> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
16. Seegers, H., Fourichon, C., Beaudeau, F. (2003) Production effects related to mastitis and mastitis economics in dairy cattle herds. Unit of Animal Health Management, National Veterinary School, France. Available from: < http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/90/27/68/PDF/hal-00902768.pdf > [Accessed 05 June 2014]
17. UGCN. (-). Mastitis. Available: http://www.ugcn.nl/media/default.aspx/emma/org/10647926/samenvatting%20bart%20van%20der%20borne.pdf. [Accessed 05 June 2014]
18. (2014) Pathogens - The cause of mastitis. Available at: < http://www.dairyco.org.uk/technical-information/animal-health-welfare/mastitis/pathogens-the-cause-of-mastitis/#.U5WTdvnV9Fs >. [Accessed 05 June 2014].
19. Levende have. (2013). Mastitis. Available: < http://www.levendehave.nl/kennisbank/runderen/mastitis> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
20. Groot M., Kleijer-Ligtenberg, G., van Asseldonk T., Hansma, H., [2011] Stalboekje Melkvee – Natuurlijk gezond met kruiden en andere natuurproducten. Available from: <http://edepot.wur.nl/162983> [24 May 2014]
21. Finke, E. (2011) Bedrijfsnetwerk op weg naar minder antibiotica. Available from: < http://edepot.wur.nl/185222> [24 May 2014]
22. Ryckaert, I. (-) Levensproductie van melkkoeien. Vlaamse overheid, Departement Landbouw en Visserij, Afdeling Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling. Available from: < http://www2.vlaanderen.be/landbouw/downloads/dier/22.pdf> [Accessed 05 June 2014]
23. Deru, J., Ellinger, L., Baars, T., [2006] Homeopathie bij rundvee een verkenning van behandelingen, succesfactoren en patroonherkenning in het kader van Bioveem – Bioveem Intern Rapport 16. Available from: http://www.centaurea.nl/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Homeopathie-bij-rundvee.pdf [24 May 2014]
24. Werkgroep Veterinair Antibiotica Beleid – KNMVD [2012] Formularia antibiotica from: <http://wvab.knmvd.nl/wvab/formularia/formularia> [24 May 2014]
25. (-). Mastitis in dairy cattle – Wikipedia. Available at: < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastitis_in_dairy_cattle.> [Accessed 05 June 2014]