PREVENTIVE METHODS IN REDUCTION OF MASTITIS PATHOGENS IN DAIRY COWS

Abstract

Mammary gland tissue inflammation (mastitis) is the most frequent disease in dairy cattle in the world, and negatively influences the milk quality having consequences for the dairy processing industry. The aim of the study was analyze designed preventive and control methods focused to reduction of mastitis in herd of Slovak pied cattle in the east of Slovakia during two years of experiment. From 180 cows at quarterly intervals in the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th month was performed a complex examination of health udder including an assessment clinical signs of mammary gland, abnormal udder secretions, Californian Mastitis Test (CMT) with subsequent collecting of milk samples for bacteriological examination. In the first year during the first two complex examinations, treatment of mastitis caused by coagulase positive staphylococci (S. aureus), coagulase negative staphylococci (S. haemolyticus, S. warneri, S. epidermidis) and Str. agalactiae, a reduction in prevalence from the original 41.3 % to 32.1 % was achieved. During the last two complex examinations in the first year the prevalence decreased to 25.2 % and then at the end to 21.1 %, respectively. The reduction of mastitis during the second year is characterized by a 22.1 %, 19.2 %, 12.2 % to 7.3 % mastitis, when the prevalence dropped by 5.5 %, respectively. Coagulase negative staphylococci and Str. agalactiae were the most numerous in each case during the second year and their occurrence subject to a proportional reduction. Proposed antimastitis methods and their implementation of continuous mastitis control system during two years, significantly reduced prevalence of mastitis by 34.0 % and influenced the occurrence of the most common pathogens of the mammary gland in monitored herd of dairy cows. Recorded reduction of mastitis in monitored dairy herd is an example of using available scientifically validated methods in a rationally compiled mastitis control program for the specific conditions of each dairy farm in the long period.