Unit 6 -- Part 3
Mastitis
S. Kenyon

MASTITIS

• Infection of the udder
• Caused by bacteria and yeasts
• Enter through the teat end
• Two major types
  • contagious
  • environmental

CONTAGIOUS MASTITIS

• Transmitted in the parlor during milking
• Most important bacteria
  • Staph. aureus
  • Strep. agalactiae
• Predisposing causes:

• milking machine malfunction
• poor milking technique
  • teat end impacts 
  • liner slip
  • badly dipped teats 
  • poor dry cow program

CONTROL OF CONTAGIOUS MASTITIS

5 POINT PROGRAM

• Maintain Milking Machine
• Use Effective Post-Milking Dip
• Dry Cow Treatment Program
• Treat Clinical Cases Promptly
• Cull Chronic Cases

Other effective procedures for Control of Contagious Mastitis

• Forestrip
• Backflush

ENVIRONMENTAL MASTITIS

• Transmitted:
  • outside parlor from environment
  • inside parlor (excessive water use)
• Most important bacteria
  • Strep. uberis
  • Strep dysgalactiae
  • Coliforms (E.coli, Klebsiella)
• Predisposing Causes
  • bad teat ends
  • dirty environment
  • excess water used in parlor
• Prevention
  • limit water use in parlor
  • keep cows standing when they leave the parlor so teat ends seal
    • water available
    • feed available
  • well designed, properly maintained freestalls
    • dry bedding
    • ventilation

MASTITIS VACCINES

Vaccines available

• Staph. aureus
  • reduce severity of mastitis
  • do not prevent infections
• Coliforms
  • J-5 vaccine economical and effective in preventing acute coliform mastitis

MASTITIS TREATMENT

• Strip out affected quarter
• Use oxytocin if necessary to assist in stripping
• Use full course of intramammary preparation
• Clean teat end before insertion
• Identify cow by 2 methods
• Observe milk withdrawal time
• Cull chronic cases (3 flare-ups in a lactation)

DRY COW TREATMENT

• Terminates new infections acquired during lactation
• Prevents new infections during the dry period

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