Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-75dct Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-17T22:35:10.061Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evaluation of increased milking frequency as an additional treatment for cows with clinical mastitis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2009

Volker Krömker ,
Claudia Zinke ,
Jan-Hendrik Paduch ,
Doris Klocke ,
Anette Reimann  and
Georg Eller
Volker Krömker*
Affiliation:
Microbiology, Faculty of Mechanical and Bioprocess Engineering, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Heisterbergallee 12, D-30453Hannover, Germany
Claudia Zinke
Affiliation:
Microbiology, Faculty of Mechanical and Bioprocess Engineering, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Heisterbergallee 12, D-30453Hannover, Germany
Jan-Hendrik Paduch
Affiliation:
Microbiology, Faculty of Mechanical and Bioprocess Engineering, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Heisterbergallee 12, D-30453Hannover, Germany
Doris Klocke
Affiliation:
Microbiology, Faculty of Mechanical and Bioprocess Engineering, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Heisterbergallee 12, D-30453Hannover, Germany
Anette Reimann
Affiliation:
Milch-Land GmbH, Eisfelder Str.66, D-98669Veilsdorf, Germany
Georg Eller
Affiliation:
Veterinary Clinic Dr Eller, Aurachsmühle 1, D-97461Hofheim, Germany
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: volker.kroemker@fh-hannover.de
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This field study focused on the possible effects of increased milking frequency (milking four times a day in comparison with milking twice a day) on clinical and bacteriological cure rates of clinical, antibiotically treated mastitis cases. Parameters tested were clinical, microbiological and full (cytomicrobiological) cure as well as the development of milk yield after the clinical mastitis episode. Cows from a large dairy herd meeting the study criteria (n=93) were assigned to two treatment groups by a systematic randomization scheme (blocked by body temperature <=or >39·5°C). Both groups were randomly divided by experimental treatments: a) antibiotic intramammary treatment and milking 2-times a day; b) antibiotic intramammary treatment and milking 4-times a day. Treatments were initiated before the culture results were known. Cows were surveyed and evaluated on days 1–6, 24 and 31. No significant differences between treatment and control groups regarding clinical cure, microbiological cure, full cure and milk production could be established. Applying a 4-times a day milking regime did not lead to any significant effect, either positive or negative. Therefore, the results suggest that milking 4-times a day as a supporting therapy for mild, moderate and severe antimicrobially treated mastitis cases cannot be recommended.

Keywords

Increased milking frequencymastitisbacteriological cure ratesantibiotic therapy
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 77 , Issue 1 , February 2010 , pp. 90 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Eberhart, RJ, Harmon, RJ, Jasper, DE, Natzke, RP, Nickerson, SC, Reneau, JK, Row, EH, Smith, KL & Spencer, SB 1987 Current Concepts of Bovine Mastitis. 3rd Edn. Arlington VA, USA: Natl. Mastitis Council Inc.Google Scholar
German Veterinary Association 2002 Guidelines for bovine mastitis control in dairy herds. GVA, Giessen, GermanyGoogle Scholar
Giovannini, G & Zecconi, A 2002 Field study on epidemiology of clinical mastitis in five Italian dairy herds. Milk Science International 57 3–6Google Scholar
International Dairy Federation 1999 Suggested interpretation of mastitis terminology. Bulletin of the International Dairy Federation 338 IDF, Brussels BelgiumGoogle Scholar
Hamann, J, Gyodi, P, Krömker, V & Stahlhut-Klipp, H 1998 Physiological variation of milk components in bovine udder quarters with special regard to milking frequency. 10th International Conference on Production Diseases in Farm Animals, Utrecht, 1998.Google Scholar
Hamann, J & Gyodi, P 1999 Electrical conductivity in fraction-collected quarter milk samples with low somatic cell counts. Milk Science International 54 487–491Google Scholar
Hamann, J & Gyodi, P 2000 Somatic cells and electrical conductivity in relation to milking frequency. Milk Science International 55 303–307Google Scholar
Klei, LR, Lynch, JM, Barbano, DM, Oltenacu, PA, Lednor, AJ & Bandler, DK 1997 Influence of milking three times a day on milk quality. Journal of Dairy Sciences 80 427–436CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krömker, V 2006 Mastitis. Short textbook on milk and milk hygiene. Stuttgart, Germany: PareyGoogle Scholar
Leininger, DJ, Roberson, JR, Elvinger, F, Ward, D & Akers, M 2003 Evaluation of frequent milk-out for treatment of cows with experimentally induced Escherichia coli mastitis. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 222 63–66CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morin, DE, Shanks, RD & McCoy, GC 1998 Comparison of antibiotic administration in conjunction with supportive measures versus supportive measures alone for treatment of dairy cows with clinical mastitis. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 213 676–684CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Mastitis Council 1999 Laboratory Handbook on Bovine Mastitis. Revised edition. Madison WI, USA: National Mastitis Council IncGoogle Scholar
Opletal, A, Rysanek, D & Sladky, L 1985 Therapeutic effectiveness of frequent milking out and antibiotic treatment in acute catarrhal mastitis. Proceedings of the V International Symposium of Mastitis Control pp. 414–422Google Scholar
Roberson, JR 1997 Frequent milk-out as a treatment for subacute clinical mastitis. National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting Proceedings pp. 152–157Google Scholar
Roberson, JR, Warnick, LD & Moore, G 2004 Mild to moderate clinical mastitis: Efficacy of intramammary amoxicillin, frequent milk-out, a combined intramammary amoxicillin, and frequent milk-out treatment versus no treatment. Journal of Dairy Science 87 583–592CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schukken, YH, Hertl, J, Bar, D, Bennett, GJ, González, RN, Rauch, BJ, Santisteban, C, Schulte, HF, Tauer, L, Welcome, FL & Gröhn, YT 2009 Effects of repeated Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical mastitis episodes on milk yield loss in Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 92 3091–3105CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stute, EC 1978 Clinical investigation of frequent milking on mastitis therapy. Thesis. Hannover University of Veterinary ScienceGoogle Scholar
Van der Iest, R & Hillerton, E 1989 Short-term effects of frequent milking of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Research 56 587–592CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weigt, U & Grunert, E 1984 Udder diseases. In: Buiatric 1 Vol. 4 (Ed. E Grunert) Hannover, Germany: SchaperGoogle Scholar