Post by Tammy on May 18, 2010 9:23:28 GMT -5
Just a few links to some articles about heifer mastitis for general informational purposes. While heifer mastitis in the family cow is going to be less frequent, it does happen and being armed with information is the best defense.
The traditional view that heifers are mastitis free has been shattered. Until recent times,
little attention has been paid to prevention of mastitis in replacement heifers prior to
entering the milking herd. However, dairymen are beginning to find out and field studies
have shown that mastitis in pre-fresh heifers can be an important source of increased
clinical cases of mastitis for the milking herd as well as reduced herd milk quality due to
increased bulk tank somatic cell counts. Up to 50% of the heifers have been reported to
be infected at calving in some dairy herd. Many of these infections are clinical cases of
mastitis. The end result of pre-freshening mastitis in heifers is damage to the mammary
gland secretory tissue that may result in chronically decreased milk production.
For the rest of the article see the following link:
Mastitis in Dairy Heifers
********************************************
Before she ever enters the parlor— be
fore the first drop of milk hits the bulk
tank—it is extremely likely that a dairy
heifer already harbors a mastitis infection.
Research shows that in many herds, up
to 90% of the heifer population freshen
with pre-existing intramammary infections.
At calving or shortly thereafter, these
young cows manifest signs of clinical mastitis
and serve as a source of infection to
the entire milking herd.
The rest of the article can be found at the following link:
Heifer Mastitis: Why Prepartum Udder Health Matters
*****************************************
Intramammary infections (IMIs) in unbred
and pregnant dairy heifers were once
thought to be very infrequent. However, during
the last 2 decades, several studies have
shown that IMIs in heifers occur frequently
during the prepartum and peripartum periods.
Many of these infections can persist for
long periods of time, may be associated with
elevated somatic cell counts (SCC), and may
impair mammary development and affect
milk production after calving. The purpose
of this communication is to review literature
published on the prevalence of mastitis in
heifers, potential risk factors associated with
heifer mastitis, and to describe results of different
approaches that have been taken to
control mastitis in heifers.
INTRODUCTION
Mastitis in heifers was first recognized over
60 years ago.
Rest of the article here:
Prevalence, Risk Factors,
and Strategies for Controlling
Mastitis in Heifers During the
Periparturient Period
**********************************************
An increasing amount of attention has been given by researchers the last few years to the
problem of how to deal with mastitis prevention and treatment in heifers before they freshen
the first time. While the infection incidence rate varies from herd to herd, as does the
predominant kind(s) of organisms causing the infections, this research attention has come
about because the prevalence of udder infections in heifers is higher than most people
realized and expected.
One approach to dealing with the prepartum mastitis clinical infections in heifers is to detect
and treat the infections prior to freshening.
Effectiveness of Treating Clinical Mastitis in Heifers Before Parturition
The traditional view that heifers are mastitis free has been shattered. Until recent times,
little attention has been paid to prevention of mastitis in replacement heifers prior to
entering the milking herd. However, dairymen are beginning to find out and field studies
have shown that mastitis in pre-fresh heifers can be an important source of increased
clinical cases of mastitis for the milking herd as well as reduced herd milk quality due to
increased bulk tank somatic cell counts. Up to 50% of the heifers have been reported to
be infected at calving in some dairy herd. Many of these infections are clinical cases of
mastitis. The end result of pre-freshening mastitis in heifers is damage to the mammary
gland secretory tissue that may result in chronically decreased milk production.
For the rest of the article see the following link:
Mastitis in Dairy Heifers
********************************************
Before she ever enters the parlor— be
fore the first drop of milk hits the bulk
tank—it is extremely likely that a dairy
heifer already harbors a mastitis infection.
Research shows that in many herds, up
to 90% of the heifer population freshen
with pre-existing intramammary infections.
At calving or shortly thereafter, these
young cows manifest signs of clinical mastitis
and serve as a source of infection to
the entire milking herd.
The rest of the article can be found at the following link:
Heifer Mastitis: Why Prepartum Udder Health Matters
*****************************************
Intramammary infections (IMIs) in unbred
and pregnant dairy heifers were once
thought to be very infrequent. However, during
the last 2 decades, several studies have
shown that IMIs in heifers occur frequently
during the prepartum and peripartum periods.
Many of these infections can persist for
long periods of time, may be associated with
elevated somatic cell counts (SCC), and may
impair mammary development and affect
milk production after calving. The purpose
of this communication is to review literature
published on the prevalence of mastitis in
heifers, potential risk factors associated with
heifer mastitis, and to describe results of different
approaches that have been taken to
control mastitis in heifers.
INTRODUCTION
Mastitis in heifers was first recognized over
60 years ago.
Rest of the article here:
Prevalence, Risk Factors,
and Strategies for Controlling
Mastitis in Heifers During the
Periparturient Period
**********************************************
An increasing amount of attention has been given by researchers the last few years to the
problem of how to deal with mastitis prevention and treatment in heifers before they freshen
the first time. While the infection incidence rate varies from herd to herd, as does the
predominant kind(s) of organisms causing the infections, this research attention has come
about because the prevalence of udder infections in heifers is higher than most people
realized and expected.
One approach to dealing with the prepartum mastitis clinical infections in heifers is to detect
and treat the infections prior to freshening.
Effectiveness of Treating Clinical Mastitis in Heifers Before Parturition