Milking for profit

Beat mastitis before serving cows

May 21, 2010

THE link between mastitis and fertility highlights the importance of accurate mastitis detection, evaluation and treatment, says vet Matthew Burge of Norfolk-based Chapelfield Vets.

He undertook a study as a student last year, clearly showing mastitis negatively impacted on fertility - see panel. The data he collected from 200 black and white cows on four Dorset dairy farms also suggested the effect on fertility was greater when the mastitis was caused by E.coli.

Now working in practice, Mr Burge tells farmers it may be cost-effective to hold off serving cows affected by mastitis, or use cheaper semen. He also promotes the importance of getting on top of mastitis quickly, treating with an intra-mammary tube and an anti-inflammatory.

“Detecting mastitis early is crucial, and because most cases occur in the first 100 days of lactation, reviewing your approach to toxic mastitis in this phase could be beneficial,” says Mr Burge.

Starting point

Robert Ankcorn of Intervet/ Schering-Plough Animal Health says understanding which bugs are typically a problem in the herd is also ‘an excellent starting point’.

He recommends watching carefully for mastitis in the first 100 days, as well as monitoring cows to see if they have visibly inflamed udders and/or raised temperatures.

He says watching carefully for signs of bulling or missed oestrus will be useful in considering re-timing AI services following severe mastitis cases.

The study

Clinical mastitis before first service delayed time to first service by an average 14 days, adding 21 days to the calving interval.
WHY? Mr Burge believes the release of chemicals in response to a mastitis infection negatively influences the development of the follicle and possibly even prevents an egg being released. At the same time, stress hormones reduce the secretion of the hormone oestrodial, preventing normal bulling behaviour and making it hard to spot cows in heat and allow them to serve accordingly.

A mastitis case after first service added an average of 57 days to a cow’s calving interval.
WHY? Again, chemicals released as a result of inflammation reduce the egg’s likelihood of developing into an embryo. This is also the case if a cow is ill with toxic mastitis and has a raised temperature.

 

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Also in: Milking for profit: Understanding why cows leave the herd

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