MilkGenius: Mastitis in Cows
Mastitis in Cows: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland, usually of bacterial origin, although other factors (mechanical injuries, environmental conditions, viruses, algae, etc.) can also influence the development of inflammation/infection. Bacteria usually enter the udder through the teat canal, releasing toxins that cause inflammation, and possibly damaging the milk-producing tissues, which reduces milk production and quality. Mastitis in cattle can happen at any stage of lactation, even during the dry period but is most common in animals that have calved recently. Despite the emphasis on the prevention of this disease by industry, it still remains the one of the main causes of economic losses on farms, behind only to subclinical ketosis.
Causes of mastitis
Commonly, mastitis in dairy cows occurs due to poor environmental conditions, problems in animal health or deficiencies in herd management. Special attention should be focused on the hygiene and maintenance of the milking equipment, animals and animal housing. There are still other factors that can affect the incidence of the disease such as: diet, other diseases, water quality, animal management, injuries, etc. Therefore, an effective mastitis prevention and control strategy should include not only the treatment of the disease, but also the management of the entire farm.
Signs and types of mastitis in dairy cattle
Mastitis can be clinical (noticeable by observation) or subclinical (no visible signs).
Clinical mastitis
The cost does not justify its routine use in many farms. Some of them can only be installed on certain milking lines, so a significant number of farms cannot adapt it to their existing equipment, while others lack accuracy and reliability. Many need reagents and routine calibration to assure accurate results.
Subclinical mastitis
Subclinical mastitis is characterized by a mild inflammation of the udder, and the milk appears to have a normal consistency and color, there is no udder or other signs of sickness, and the inflammation is determined only by changes in the composition of the milk and the presence of inflammatory cells. Those inflammatory cells are a great part of the somatic cells.
An increased number of somatic cells, a change in the electrical conductivity of milk and a decreased concentration of lactose are strong indicators in the milk for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis. Monitoring changes in milk composition and quantity can help identify cows with mastitis effectively and quickly. Modern milking operations increasingly integrate various monitoring systems, including “mini laboratories” that help identify sick animals facilitating the monitoring of animal health. This can be an excellent alternative to tests performed in conventional laboratories, because the data is obtained immediately, there is no need to worry about sampling or sample handling, and the risk of obtaining wrong data due to an improperly collected, handled or mislabeled sample is virtually eliminated. However, not all systems of this type are easy to use, and the cost does not justify its routine use in many farms. Some of them can only be installed on certain milking lines, so a significant number of farms cannot adapt it to their existing equipment, while others lack accuracy and reliability. Many need reagents and routine calibration to assure accurate results.
Losses incurred
It is estimated that the losses currently caused by clinical mastitis can range from $110 to $444 per cow per year depending on the severity and stage of lactation.
Subclinical cases also have a cost. According to studies, elevated SCC is associated with lower milk production, reduced pregnancy rates, and more significant death losses. Milk yield loss increases proportionally to the number of test days with high SCC. It was observed that when SCC in on quarter is at 100 thousand/ml, the productivity from that quarter decreases by 25-35 percent per day, and during the entire lactation – by 10-15 percent. On average, about 650 kg of milk is lost from a cow with high SCC during lactation. And some animals will produce less milk for the rest of their lives due to chronic lesions.
Subclinical mastitis is the most common type of mastitis in farms. Consequently, it is very important to detect subclinical mastitis as early as possible to avoid milk losses and before it becomes clinical. This can be done effectively only with the help of modern diagnostic tools.
How to detect mastitis in cows?
Determination of SCC
One of the most popular tests for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis is the determination of the somatic cell count (SCC) in milk. SCC counts higher than 200 thousand/ml SCC (composite of all quarters) is the industry cut point to determine mastitis. This test is not always practical and fast, as it requires additional equipment and reagents. When samples are sent to the laboratory, test results are obtained after a few days, which increases time until diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Diagnosis of mastitis with MilkGenius HerdLine
Dairy farmers never had the ability to continuously monitor milk quality. But now, the MilkGenius in-line milk analyzer measures fat, protein, and lactose concentrations, along with evaluating changes in the spectrum of each cow’s milk during every milking. This collected data empowers the MilkGenius HerdLine system to provide early warnings of health disorders. Additionally, the insights help to optimize reproductive performance and nutritional management. The ultimate goal of the system is to help dairy farmers maximize the yield of high-quality milk and their profit
Treatment of mastitis in dairy cattle
Prevention of mastitis in cows
To prevent mastitis and maintain good milk quality, comprehensive prevention is very important:
- Hygiene is a must! Dirty cattle, bedding areas, floors, milking machines and areas, improper hand hygiene of milkers create conditions for the spread and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
- Corrals and walking paths must be comfortable, clean, dimensioned for the needs of the animals, avoiding injuries
- If the farm has >5% animals with dirty udders, teats and feet, it is an indicator of bad hygiene
- It is important to check that the teats are healthy, clean and dry before putting on the milking units