Mastitis control in dairy production

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JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & SOCIAL SCIENCES
ISSN Print: 1813–2235; ISSN Online: 1814–960X
09–005/ZAP/2009/5–3–102–105
http://www.fspublishers.org
Continuing Education Article
To cite this paper: Sharif, A., M. Umer and G. Muhammad, 2009. Mastitis control in dairy production. J. Agric. Soc. Sci., 5: 102–105
Mastitis Control in Dairy Production
AAMIR SHARIF1, MUHAMMAD UMER† AND GHULAM MUHAMMAD‡
Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
†Bhagnari Cattle Farm, Usta Muhammad, Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Balochistan, Pakistan
‡Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
1Corresponding author’s e-mail: aamirsharifcheema@yahoo.com
INTRODUCTION
Mastitis is the most important and expensive disease of
dairy industry (Alert, 1995). In dairy cattle it results in
severe economic losses from reduced milk production,
treatment cost, increased labor, milk withheld following
treatment and premature culling (Miller et al., 1993). It is
recognized that if this disease is diagnosed in early stages,
the greater portion of this loss can be avoided. It is
undoubtedly the most important disease with which the
dairy industry is encountered. Mastitis is characterized by
physical, chemical and bacteriological changes in the milk
and pathological changes in the glandular tissue of the
udder. The most important changes include discoloration,
presence of clots and presence of large number of
leukocytes. The bacterial contamination of milk from the
affected cows render it unfit for human consumption and
provide a mechanism of spread of diseases like tuberculosis,
sore-throat, brucellosis, leptospirosis etc. and has zoonotic
importance. Globally the losses due to mastitis amount to
about 53 billon dollars annually (Ratafia, 1987). Compared
to developed countries mastitis is a major problem in the
dairy industry of developing countries like Pakistan. This
paper summarizes the guideline for the mastitis control in
dairy animals.
Pathogens and prevalence of mastitis. The organisms
involved in mastitis vary from community to community.
The most common causes of udder disease include
staphylococci (S. aureus & Staph. epidermidis),
streptococci (Str. agalactiae, Str. dysgalactiae, Str. uberis
& Str. bovis) and coliforms (mainly E. coli & Klebsiella
pneumoniae). Other less frequent agents include
Pseudomonads, Nocardia, Mycoplasma and yeast
(McDonald, 1979). Staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli
and pseudomonas are found in buffaloes suffering with
mastitis (Anwar & Chaudhary, 1983). Coagulase negative
staphylococcus (CNS) is also the prevalent bacterial
pathogen in udder infections (Lafi et al., 1994). Among
all the pathogens of bovine mastitis, S. aureus is the
predominant organism (Kapur et al., 1992). The most
common mastitis pathogens are contagious and
environmental pathogens. Among the contagious
pathogens, the most common are S. aureus and Str.
agalactiae. These spread from infected to clean udders
during the milking process through contaminated milker’s
hand and cloth towels used to wash or dry udder of more
than one animal and may be by flies. Contagious
organisms are responsible for most of clinical cases and S.
aureus is at the top of the list in dairy species of animals
(Allore, 1993). Among environmental pathogens, the
most common bacteria are Strep. uberis, Str.
dysgalactiae, coliforms such as E. coli and Klebsiella.
Transmission of the environmental pathogen occurs
between milkings. Coliform infections are usually
associated with unsanitary environment, while Klebsiella
are found in sawdust that contains bark or soil. Coliform
infections manifest symptoms of abnormal milk, swollen
udder/quarters, watery milk and depressed appetite.
In India and Pakistan prevalence of sub-clinical
mastitis is 17-93% in cows and 4-48% in buffaloes (Allore,
1993). The dairy industry is facing a great set back due to
high prevalence and incidence of mastitis in milch animals.
The infection rate of mastitis in cows with pendulous udder
is higher than the non-pendulous udder (Sori et al., 2005).
The infection rate in cows with teat lesions is more than
cows with normal teats. Cows with disk-shaped, inverted,
pointed and round shaped teat ends have 88.46%, 61.54%,
54.17% and 40.86% rates of infection, respectively with
significant difference. The pendulous udder exposes the teat
and udder to injury and pathogens may easily adhere to the
teat and get access to the gland tissue (Scham et al., 1971).
Quarter wise prevalence of sub-clinical mastitis in Pakistan
is 37.75% (Sharif & Ahmad, 2007).
As mastitis is caused by a variety of pathogens and
prevalence of mastitis is high in our dairy animals, a mastitis
control program is needed that is well suited under Pakistani
conditions for running a profitable dairy business.
Mastitis control program. Mastitis is the outcome of
interaction of various factors associated with the host,
pathogen (s) and environment. Most of the cases of
mastitis occur in lactating cows, often soon after calving,
with the abnormal milk. If the development of clinical
mastitis is predicted, then treatment prior to the
appearance of visible signs results in fewer cases of
clinical mastitis developing, reduces the severity
measured by cell count at detection and halves the length

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of convalescent period and returns SCC to normal level.
The efficacy of therapy during non-lactating period is
better than during lactation. Conventional treatment is to
use antibiotic therapy, although alternatives including
herbal and homeopathic approaches assume some
importance. The early treatment of mastitis gives better
prospect for elimination of bacteria (Milner et al., 1997).
Mastitis cannot be totally eliminated form a herd, the
incidence can be held to a minimum. However, advances in
detection systems have not produced effective cow-side
methods to achieve this better care. All dairy animals must
spend a period, 6-10 weeks prior to calving (usually
annually), in a dry or resting period, a non-lactating phase.
At this time the cow remains susceptible to new intra-
mammary infections especially soon after the ‘drying off’ or
cessation of milking and around calving (Hillerton & Berry,
2005).
The dry cow treatment (DCT) with antibiotics showed
a prophylactic benefit of 82% reduction in the rate of new
intra-mammary infections in the dry period and higher rate
of eliminating infections than treating in lactation (Smith et
al., 1967). The mastitis control plan reduce the duration of
existing infections and reduce the likelihood of new
infection by managing exposure and means of transmission
(Dodd & Neave, 1970).
Early diagnosis of sub-clinical mastitis with reliable
tests facilitates successful treatment and control. The key
elements in the control of mastitis include, sound husbandry
practices and sanitation, post milking teat dip, treatment of
mastitis during non-lactating period and culling of
chronically infected animals. Str. agalactiae can be
eradicated from dairy herds with good mastitis control
practices, including teat dipping and dry animal therapy. Str.
agalactiae may live almost anywhere; in the udder, rumen
and feces and in the barn, they can be controlled with proper
sanitation and moderately susceptible antibiotics.
Environmental mastitis is caused by organisms such as
E. coli, which do not normally live on the skin or in the
udder but which enter the teat canal when the cow comes in
contact with a contaminated environment. The primary
reservoir of environmental pathogens is the cow’s
environment, housing, bedding, etc. Incidence of
environmental mastitis may occur at any time, from any
source in the cow’s surroundings, although the rate of
infection is higher in dry period-especially during two
weeks following dry off and in two week prior to calving.
Infections acquired during this period may persist up to the
following lactation. The mammary gland is particularly
susceptible to clinical environmental infection in the peri-
parturient and early lactation period. The pathogens
normally found in feces bedding materials and feed. Cases
of environmental mastitis rarely exceed 10% of the total
mastitis cases in the herd. The most important
environmental mastitis pathogens include; gram-negative
bacteria (such as E. coli & Kebsiella spp.) and Strept. spp.
(such as Str. uberis & Str. dysgalactiae). Control of
environmental mastitis can be achieved by reducing the
number of bacteria to which teat is exposed. The animal
environment should be as clean and dry as possible. The
animals should have no access to manure, mud or pools of
stagnant water and calving area must be clean. Post milking
teat dip with a germicidal is recommended. Control of
environmental mastitis during dry period, using either
germicidal or barrier dips, have been un-successful. Proper
antibiotic therapy for all quarters of all animals at drying off
helps to control environmental streptococci during early dry
period. The mastitis caused by environmental pathogens
cannot be eradicated from a dairy herd but it can be
controlled by reducing exposure and by increasing immune
resistance of the cow by post milking teat dipping with a
germicidal and treatment of all quarters with antibiotics
during drying off (Smith & Hogan, 1993).
Contagious mastitis is transmitted from cow to cow,
by pathogens for which the udder is the primary reservoir. It
tends to be sub-clinical in nature. The economic impact of
this form of mastitis is mostly due to production loss,
reduced milk quality (high SCC), premature culling and the
eventual cost of control programs. It is mostly caused by
bacteria that live on the skin of the teat and inside the udder.
Common contagious pathogens have been reported to infect
7 to 40% of all cows (Fox & Gay, 1993). Contagious
mastitis can be transmitted from one cow to another during
milking process and new infections are most often acquired
during the lactation period. The primary reservoir of
contagious pathogens is the mammary gland itself.
Frequency of contagious pathogens among mastitis cases is
greater (Sori et al., 2005). The use of dry cow therapy, post
milking teat disinfectants and effective pre-milking hygiene
are effective control procedures for most contagious mastitis
pathogens (Fox & Gay, 1993). With the use of antibiotics
and improved herd hygiene, the incidence of streptococcal
mastitis has been greatly reduced throughout the world but
the incidence of staphylococcus mastitis has increased
greatly. In most countries staphylococcus is the most
predominant cause of sub-clinical mastitis (Singh & Buxi,
1982) and is also isolated from the clinical cases (Kapur et
al., 1992). Monitoring SCC and prompt identification and
treatment of mastitis in dairy animals help in the reduction
of mastitis. Dry animal therapy can eliminate 70% of
environmental streptococcal infections.
The fundamental principle of mastitis control is that
the disease is controlled by either decreasing the exposure of
the teat to potential pathogens or by increasing resistance of
dairy animals to infection. As, the teat canal remains open
up to 2-3 h after milking to resume its normal confirmation
after milking, this is the reason for providing feed and water
immediately after milking to encourage animals to remain
standing and the reason for having freshly cleaned and
bedded stalls when the cows do lie down. Injury to the teat
muscle and/or keratin lining caused by crushing,
inappropriate treatment or manipulation of the teat canal or
form the development of teat end lesions associated with

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104
faulty milking equipment or chronic over milking can cause
an increase in new infections. Post milking teat dipping in
an antiseptic solution helps in the prevention of mastitis, the
length of dipping period was related to the effectiveness of
post-milking teat dipping as an aid in the prevention of sub-
clinical mastitis in cows (Jafri, 1981). S. aureus and Str.
agalactiae can be controlled by proper sanitation and with
good mastitis control practices.
Major pathogens cause high increase in mean milk
SCC. The major pathogens i.e., streptococci spp., S. aureus
and coliforms are responsible for most of clinical infections
(Dohoo & Meek, 1982). Effective udder washing and
drying, post-milking teat dip and drying, inter-cow hand-
washing and disinfection in the milking routine decrease
risk of isolation of major pathogens of mastitis (Sori et al.,
2005).
Microorganisms colonizing the mammary gland e.g.,
Corynebacterium bovis or coagulase negative staphylococci
(CNS) are minor pathogens or commensals. The minor
pathogens consist of bacteria, which are normal inhabitants
of the teat canal and may be frequently isolated from milk
samples, but which have limited pathological significance
and seldom cause inflammation. Minor pathogens cause less
increase in mean milk SCC. Environmental pathogens are
most often responsible for clinical cases. Dry period
antibiotic therapy can eliminate 70% of environmental
streptococcal infections (Jones, 2006).
Developed countries like United Kingdom give
consideration on following points for controlling mastitis:
• Treat all case of clinical mastitis promptly with an
effective remedy, to limit exposure and reduce duration.
• Use a longer acing antibiotic on all quarters of all
cows at the end of the lactation to eliminate persisting
infections and prevent new infections in the dry period to
reduce duration and minimize exposure.
• Cull all cows suffering recurrent infection.
• Dip all teats of all cows in an effective disinfectant
after every milking to reduce exposure.
• The milking machine operates properly (Dodd &
Jackson, 1971).
In addition to above the following recommendations
for mastitis control are necessary to carry out in Pakistani
conditions:
Routine mastitis detection through mastitis detection
test should be carried out. Any animal positive for sub-
clinical mastitis should be separated and treatment should be
started. For mastitis detection different tests can be used.
The first streaks of milk should be observed for presence of
clots, streaks of blood, milk may be off color or watery, all
these indicate presence of mastitis. Surf field mastitis test
(SFMT) is the most reliable, easy to understand, quick and
cheap test for detection of sub-clinical mastitis in dairy
animals (Muhammad et al., 2005).
As the weaning is not practiced by most of dairy
farmers in Pakistan and direct calf suckling is practiced
directly from the dam udder, the calf during feeding often
damages the udder and infection develops. Milk let down is
mostly carried out from calf during suckling the pathogens
may get entry into the teat. Calf suckling must be avoided at
all costs in dairy animals.
Due to rapid urbanization, in urban and peri-urban
areas the dairy animals are kept in closed areas within the
boundary walls of the house and animals get with very less
open and covered area. In this type of housing over
crowding of animals results, ultimately chances of spread of
disease increase. Proper ventilation and good sanitation at
the farm building are very necessary to decrease the
exposure of pathogens to the mammary gland, resultantly
decreasing mastitis.
The milker’s hand should be properly washed, dry and
clean so that chances of spread of disease can be minimized.
All milking utensils should be clean and dry.
The floor conditions of the farm should be proper.
Cemented/hard, smooth and dry floor is recommended for
keeping dairy animals in covered areas. Soiled floor may be
used for open areas in the farm. Uneven floors are harmful
to the animals. During sitting and standing the animal
should feel comfortable. Similarly dry bedding should be
provided. The dung and urine should be removed
immediately, as these are constant source of infections at the
farm. Any bad odor within the animal shed indicates the
infection. Dry environment for the animals ensures risk free.
Lice, flies and ticks control strategies should be
adapted. These are often vectors and carriers of the disease.
Cracks and crevices at the farm are the breeding sites of
ticks. Cool and humid places promote breeding of the flies.
All cracks should be filled and any humid and wet place
should be dried immediately.
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