Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of infusion with an internal teat seal at dry off, when used as an adjunct to long-acting antibiotic infusion at dry off, on the risk for acquiring a new intramammary infection (IMI) during the dry period, prevalence of IMI and linear score (LS) after calving, and risk for experiencing a clinical mastitis event between dry off and 60 DIM. A total of 437 cows from 2 dairy herds, with no clinical mastitis and 4 functional quarters, were enrolled at dry off. Prior to the final milking, all quarters were sampled for bacteriological culture and SCC analysis. After milking, all 4 quarters were infused with a commercially available long-acting dry cow antibiotic. Two contralateral quarters were then infused with an internal teat seal (Orbeseal, Pfizer Animal Health, New York). Following calving the teat seal was stripped out at first milking. Duplicate milk samples were collected between 1 to 3 DIM and again between 6 to 8 DIM for culture and SCC analysis. Quarters treated with Orbeseal had significantly lower prevalence of IMI at 1 to 3 DIM (tx = 22.8%, control = 29.1%), had significantly fewer quarters that acquired a new IMI between dry off and 1 to 3 DIM (tx = 20.2%, control = 25.4%), and had significantly fewer quarters affected by a clinical mastitis event between dry off and 60 DIM (tx = 5.9%, control = 8.0%). Multivariable analysis showed a significant effect of treatment, with treated quarters being 30% less likely to develop a new IMI between dry off and 1 to 3 DIM, 31% less likely to have an IMI present at 1 to 3 DIM, 33% less likely to experience a clinical mastitis event between dry off and 60 DIM, and having significantly lower linear score measures at 1 to 3 DIM and 6 to 8 DIM, compared with control quarters.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3899-3911 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Journal of Dairy Science |
Volume | 86 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2003 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was funded by Pfizer Animal Health, Inc. (New York, NY) . Many thanks to Jody Olson for all of her hard work treating and sampling cows and maintaining study records. Thanks also to the staff at the Laboratory for Udder Health (Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN) and to Muril Niebuhr (Zumbrota MN DHIA laboratory, Zumbrota, MN), for their extra effort in assisting with sample analysis and the transfer of data. Finally, a sincere thanks to the owners and staff at Emerald Dairy, Baldwin Dairy, and Emerald II (TMF) for their willingness to participate in this study.
Keywords
- Dry period
- Internal teat seal
- Mastitis