Reduction of intramammary infections in dairy cow herd by application of mastitis suppression procedures

Abstract

The aim of this study was to reduce the prevalence of mastitis by introduction of effective anti-mastitis measures in a herd of 125 dairy cows. The effectiveness of the relevant measures was monitored by six examinations conducted in two-month intervals during the one-year period. A reduction in the prevalence of mastitis was recorded from 53.6% to 22.9%, i.e. by 26.0%. The prevalence of Staphylococcus spp. as the most frequently isolated pathogens of the mammary gland in the examined samples gradually reduced from 33.4% to 18.4%, 14.1%, 10.0%, 7.6%, and 8.1%. In contrast to the dynamics of mastitis, the monthly fluctuations in the values of somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial count (TBC) in bulk tank milk samples were irregular. However, a declining dynamics of SCC and TBC was evident during the last three samplings which reflected a reduction in the counts of udder pathogens after the treatment and introduction of mastitis suppression procedures.