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Figure 1 - Relationship between herd plasma selenium status (ng/ml) and bulk tank SCC (log 10/ml).


5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6


60 70 80 Herd plasma Se (ng/ml) Promoting udder and teat integrity goes a long way towards reducing the risk of infection.


repeat offenders. It also aids in identifying animals likely to re- spond to dry cow therapy and those that should be culled.


• Early detection: Once high SCC cows have been identi- fied, it is crucial to find out which quarters are causing the problem. Fore-milking or pre-stripping while wearing dispos- able gloves, manual inspection of the udder and California Mastitis Tests (CMT) should be used to identify clinically in- fected quarters. Symptoms of infection include clots, colour changes in the milk and swelling of the affected quarter. Early treatment of these cases with suitable courses of intramam- mary antibiotics will minimise the establishment of chronic infections and reduce the spread of contagious bacteria during the milking process.


• Targeted milk sampling of high SCC cows: Having lo- cated the infected quarter, treating the infection with an ap- propriate antibiotic will achieve the best cure rates. Taking a sterile milk sample from the infected quarter and sending it for analysis will allow you to determine which bacteria is/are causing the infection. This analysis will then direct you to- wards a more targeted antimicrobial treatment. It is impera- tive to know the source of the infection and how it spread. If the bacteria identified are contagious, it will mean there are chronically infected cows in the herd, and milking manage- ment should be reviewed. If the bacteria are environmental, then the source of infection is likely to be dirty or contaminat- ed calving areas, cubicles or walkways. Environmental bacte- ria will spread between milkings, and control should be aimed at decreasing the environmental risks.


• Optimal post-milking teat disinfection: While the entire milking routine is important, optimal post-milking teat disinfection is the most critical aspect in terms of con- trolling the spread of contagious mastitis bacteria. It is crucial to ensure that there is a sufficient volume and coverage of disinfectant applied to each teat when being used.


• Udder hygiene evaluation score: Assess and monitor the cleanliness of the cows’ udders by scoring from 1 to 4,


where 1 is very dirty and 4 is very clean. There is a direct cor- relation between udder hygiene score and the prevalence of pathogens.


• Feeding programme and mineral supplementation: The challenge to a cow’s immune system at calving results in a decreased ability to fight infections, including those affect- ing the udder. Nutritional considerations should include the structure and composition of the ration, particularly fibre di- gestibility and particle size. High starch intakes, infrequent feed access and poorly mixed total mixed ration can all com- promise rumen health. Optimal supply of minerals and vita- mins, as well as taking steps to minimise negative energy bal- ance post-calving, are essential. Selenium is the best-studied mineral with regards to mastitis. It is involved in both the an- tioxidant and immune systems, and Se-deficient animals have been shown to have lowered immunity and resistance to disease. On a practical level, there is a negative relationship between bulk tank SCC and Se status, that is, the better the Se status, the lower the SCC (Figure 1).


Zinc is a crucial component of proteins involved in nearly all metabolic processes, as well as in DNA production. Deficiency can lead to thickened, hardened and cracked skin, especially on the teat end, which can compromise the integrity of the first barrier to infection. In addition, levels of Zn in the blood are known to drop sharply around calving, potentially leaving animals more susceptible to infection. Copper is also involved in the immune system and related enzymes, and Cu supple- mentation has shown benefits to udder health. Scaletti et al. (2003) noted that dairy cows supplemented with Cu exhibit- ed a less severe infection following an Escherichia coli chal- lenge compared with unsupplemented animals. Use of more bioavailable, organic trace minerals, such as Bioplex and Sel- Plex, can play a key role in cow health, as can support to maintain a healthy immune system. Mastitis has the potential to significantly reduce the per- formance, profit and welfare of any dairy operation. Thus, producers should be vigilant in their control plan to try to minimise its impact.


▶ DAIRY GLOBAL | Volume 8, No. 1, 2021 15 90 100


Bulk tank SCC (log 10/ml)


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