Use of internal teat sealant in heifers reduces mastitis and may affect milk production
B. G. Robertson A , J. H. Williamson A , B. Kuhn-Sherlock A , S. J. Lacy-Hulbert A and S.-A. Turner A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A DairyNZ, Private Bag 3221, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
B Corresponding author. Email: sally-anne.turner@dairynz.co.nz
Animal Production Science 57(7) 1494-1498 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN16436
Submitted: 13 July 2016 Accepted: 2 December 2016 Published: 14 February 2017
Abstract
Mastitis in heifers is costly, affecting milk quality and reducing milk production throughout the first lactation. Several studies have reported the beneficial effects of internal teat sealants (ITS) on mastitis in heifers, but there appear to be no reports on the subsequent effects on milk quality and production. The consequences of using ITS before calving were examined in a retrospective study in which two cohorts of primiparous heifers (n = 189), treated with an ITS precalving, were compared with four cohorts when ITS was not used (n = 287), using detailed bacteriology and herd-test production data in a DairyNZ research herd. In years when ITS was used, fewer (P < 0.001) heifers were detected with an intramammary infection at the first milking after calving, and fewer (P < 0.001) cases of clinical mastitis were detected in the first 30 days of lactation, than in years when ITS was not used. During the first 8 weeks of lactation, heifers treated with ITS had a lower (P < 0.0001) somatic cell count and produced 49 kg more milk (P < 0.05) and 5 kg more milksolids (P < 0.001) than did non-treated counterparts. These positive benefits associated with use of ITS provide sufficient evidence to justify further investigation in the form of a prospective controlled study.
Additional keywords: intramammary infection, milk fat, milk protein, somatic cell count, Streptococcus uberis.
References
Auldist MJ, Hubble IB (1998) Effects of mastitis on raw milk and dairy products. Australian Journal of Dairy Technology 53, 28–36.Auldist MJ, Coats S, Rogers GL, McDowell GH (1995) Changes in the composition of milk from healthy and mastitic dairy cows during the lactation cycle. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35, 427–436.
| Changes in the composition of milk from healthy and mastitic dairy cows during the lactation cycle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barkema HW, Schukken YH, Lam TJ, Beiboer ML, Wilmink H, Benedictus G, Brand A (1998) Incidence of clinical mastitis in dairy herds grouped in three categories by bulk milk somatic cell counts. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 411–419.
| Incidence of clinical mastitis in dairy herds grouped in three categories by bulk milk somatic cell counts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXhs1Oku7o%3D&md5=080ac5960a238dc98dfe05eb3eee3e0eCAS |
Compton CWR, Emslie FR, McDougall S (2014) Randomised controlled trials demonstrate efficacy of a novel internal teat sealant to prevent new intramammary infections in dairy cows and heifers. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 62, 258–266.
| Randomised controlled trials demonstrate efficacy of a novel internal teat sealant to prevent new intramammary infections in dairy cows and heifers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXhtlymt7zI&md5=1cafc2b502604a39b37684590b96b518CAS |
De Vliegher S, Barkema HW, Opsomer G, de Kruif A, Duchateau L (2005a) Association between somatic cell count in early lactation and culling of dairy heifers using cox frailty models. Journal of Dairy Science 88, 560–568.
| Association between somatic cell count in early lactation and culling of dairy heifers using cox frailty models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXpsFKmug%3D%3D&md5=1f04a71479e1f48984e32b4b7f5294f1CAS |
De Vliegher S, Barkema HW, Stryhn H, Opsomer G, de Kruif A (2005b) Impact of early lactation somatic cell count in heifers on milk yield over the first lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 88, 938–947.
| Impact of early lactation somatic cell count in heifers on milk yield over the first lactation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXitFygt7k%3D&md5=76cb513a4e308faeea50d18f1293e166CAS |
Hogan J, Gonzalez R, Harmon R, Nickerson S, Oliver S, Pankey J, Smith KL (1999) ‘Laboratory handbook on bovine mastitis.’ (National Mastitis Council Inc.: Madison, WI)
Hogeveen H, Huijps K, Lam TJ (2011) Economic aspects of mastitis: new developments. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 59, 16–23.
| Economic aspects of mastitis: new developments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3M7pvVKhtA%3D%3D&md5=05c81ace670a0ee0d6cd4d7dc5000468CAS |
Laven RA, Lawrence KE (2008) Efficacy of blanket treatment of cows and heifers with an internal teat sealant in reducing the risk of mastitis in dairy cattle calving on pasture. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 56, 171–175.
| Efficacy of blanket treatment of cows and heifers with an internal teat sealant in reducing the risk of mastitis in dairy cattle calving on pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1crgvV2qsA%3D%3D&md5=f547add597deae00417744de8bd985d7CAS |
Malcolm D (2008) The cost of mastitis revisited in a boom year. In ‘Proceedings of the SAMM milk quality conference’. pp. 135–137. (Rotorua, New Zealand)
Oliver SP, Lewis MJ, Gillespie BE, Dowlen HH, Jaenicke EC, Roberts RK (2003) Prepartum antibiotic treatment of heifers: milk production, milk quality and economic benefit. Journal of Dairy Science 86, 1187–1193.
| Prepartum antibiotic treatment of heifers: milk production, milk quality and economic benefit.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXjtVajt74%3D&md5=a9b16ea7c64c67d01482f39ae8b64829CAS |
Pankey JW, Drechsler PA, Wildman EE (1991) Mastitis prevalence in primigravid heifers at parturition. Journal of Dairy Science 74, 1550–1552.
| Mastitis prevalence in primigravid heifers at parturition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK3MzkvFelsw%3D%3D&md5=7af3b22d3b3db084af430c5b4ce45937CAS |
Parker KI, Compton C, Anniss FM, Weir A, Heuer C, McDougall S (2007) Subclinical and clinical mastitis in heifers following the use of a teat sealant precalving. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 207–218.
| Subclinical and clinical mastitis in heifers following the use of a teat sealant precalving.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXmsFSnuw%3D%3D&md5=c89bd43dae465fd9eba0bda789341bceCAS |
Parker KI, Compton CW, Anniss FM, Heuer C, McDougall S (2008) Quarter-level analysis of subclinical and clinical mastitis in primiparous heifers following the use of a teat sealant or an injectable antibiotic, or both, precalving. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 169–181.
| Quarter-level analysis of subclinical and clinical mastitis in primiparous heifers following the use of a teat sealant or an injectable antibiotic, or both, precalving.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhsVCqtw%3D%3D&md5=b0b0deb89c71c1a67b340fd894ab8953CAS |
Pearson LJ, Williamson JH, Turner S-A, Lacy-Hulbert SJ, Hillerton JE (2013) Peripartum infection with Streptococcus uberis but not coagulase-negative staphylococci reduced milk production in primiparous cows. Journal of Dairy Science 96, 158–164.
| Peripartum infection with Streptococcus uberis but not coagulase-negative staphylococci reduced milk production in primiparous cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhvV2rt77O&md5=cef6b314e1f43a746e645dac13948f12CAS |
Roche JR, Dillon PG, Stockdale CR, Baumgard LH, VanBaale MJ (2004) Relationships among international body condition scoring systems. Journal of Dairy Science 87, 3076–3079.
| Relationships among international body condition scoring systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXntlGjtrc%3D&md5=0d56f3a2cb8ba9f1c0a73283b63075eaCAS |
Rupp R, Beaudeau F, Boichard D (2000) Relationship between milk somatic-cell counts in the first lactation and clinical mastitis occurrence in the second lactation of French Holstein cows. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 46, 99–111.
| Relationship between milk somatic-cell counts in the first lactation and clinical mastitis occurrence in the second lactation of French Holstein cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvhvVyntA%3D%3D&md5=f2497b755e89e7960f445ca66879ad78CAS |
Waage S, Sviland S, Odegaard SA (1998) Identification of risk factors for clinical mastitis in dairy heifers. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 1275–1284.
| Identification of risk factors for clinical mastitis in dairy heifers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXjsVOqu74%3D&md5=725358a788c498677b62b5efc0fd3c9bCAS |
Waage S, Skei HR, Rise J, Rogdo T, Sviland S, Odegaard SA (2000) Outcome of clinical mastitis in dairy heifers assessed by reexamination of cases one month after treatment. Journal of Dairy Science 83, 70–76.
| Outcome of clinical mastitis in dairy heifers assessed by reexamination of cases one month after treatment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXotVOntA%3D%3D&md5=26845452ceaa488a6b120f70f48e1049CAS |
