Fresh sawdust bedding: A possible source of Klebsiella organisms

Abstract

Milk samples were taken, 3 months apart, from a 54 cow dairy herd in which Klebsiella mastitis had resulted in the death of 2 cows and a decrease in milk production in others. Klebsiella organisms were isolated from 54% of the cows on the initial sample collection and from 9% on the 2nd sample. Organisms identified as Klebsiella were isolated from fresh and used sawdust on this farm. Isolation of Klebsiella was also made from 12 of 30 (40%) samples of sawdust from sawmills and farm storage bins.