Udder health in beef cows and its association with calf growth

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, Jan 2014

Background Studies outside the Nordic countries have indicated that subclinical mastitis (measured by milk somatic cell count or the California Mastitis Test), intramammary infections (IMI), or blind quarters in beef cows may have negative effects on beef calf growth. Knowledge on prevalence of such udder health problems in Swedish beef cows is scarce. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate subclinical mastitis, IMI and udder conformation in a number of beef cow herds. Production of β-lactamase in staphylococci was also investigated. Associations between certain cow factors and subclinical mastitis and IMI, and associations between cow and calf factors and 200 day calf weaning weight were also studied. The herds were visited once within a month after calving and once at weaning. Udder examination and quarter milk sampling, for somatic cell count and bacteriology, were performed in 8 to 12 cows per herd and occasion. Results Approximately 50%, 40% and 10% of the cows had subclinical mastitis, IMI, and at least one blind quarter, respectively, but the prevalence varied markedly between herds. Intramammary infections (mainly due to staphylococci) were identified in 13-16% of the milk samples. Less than 5% of the staphylococcal isolates produced β-lactamase. Approximately 11% of the cows sampled twice had the same IMI (mostly Staphylococcus aureus) at both samplings. Cow factors of importance for subclinical mastitis and/or IMI were teat and udder shape, breed, parity, presence of blind quarters, and cow hygiene. No significant associations were found between udder health parameters studied and calf weaning weights. Conclusions Subclinical mastitis and IMI, but not blind quarters, were common in beef cows, but the prevalence varied markedly between herds. Most IMI were caused by staphylococci and more than 95% of those were sensitive to penicillin. Cows with large funnel-shaped teats or pendulous udder after calving, and cows with blind quarters were at risk of having subclinical mastitis and/or IMI. Poor hygiene was also a risk factor for udder health problems. No significant associations were found between udder health and calf weaning weight. More studies on risk factors are warranted to improve advisory services on awareness and prevention of mastitis in beef cows.

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Udder health in beef cows and its association with calf growth

Karin Persson Waller 0 1 Ylva Persson 1 2 Ann-Kristin Nyman 1 Lena Stengrde 3 0 Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , SE-750 07 Uppsala , Sweden 1 Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary Institute (SVA) , SE-751 89 Uppsala , Sweden 2 Vaxa Sverige , Box 288, SE-751 05 Uppsala , Sweden 3 Swedish Animal Health Service , SE-391 28 Kalmar , Sweden Background: Studies outside the Nordic countries have indicated that subclinical mastitis (measured by milk somatic cell count or the California Mastitis Test), intramammary infections (IMI), or blind quarters in beef cows may have negative effects on beef calf growth. Knowledge on prevalence of such udder health problems in Swedish beef cows is scarce. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate subclinical mastitis, IMI and udder conformation in a number of beef cow herds. Production of -lactamase in staphylococci was also investigated. Associations between certain cow factors and subclinical mastitis and IMI, and associations between cow and calf factors and 200 day calf weaning weight were also studied. The herds were visited once within a month after calving and once at weaning. Udder examination and quarter milk sampling, for somatic cell count and bacteriology, were performed in 8 to 12 cows per herd and occasion. Results: Approximately 50%, 40% and 10% of the cows had subclinical mastitis, IMI, and at least one blind quarter, respectively, but the prevalence varied markedly between herds. Intramammary infections (mainly due to staphylococci) were identified in 13-16% of the milk samples. Less than 5% of the staphylococcal isolates produced -lactamase. Approximately 11% of the cows sampled twice had the same IMI (mostly Staphylococcus aureus) at both samplings. Cow factors of importance for subclinical mastitis and/or IMI were teat and udder shape, breed, parity, presence of blind quarters, and cow hygiene. No significant associations were found between udder health parameters studied and calf weaning weights. Conclusions: Subclinical mastitis and IMI, but not blind quarters, were common in beef cows, but the prevalence varied markedly between herds. Most IMI were caused by staphylococci and more than 95% of those were sensitive to penicillin. Cows with large funnel-shaped teats or pendulous udder after calving, and cows with blind quarters were at risk of having subclinical mastitis and/or IMI. Poor hygiene was also a risk factor for udder health problems. No significant associations were found between udder health and calf weaning weight. More studies on risk factors are warranted to improve advisory services on awareness and prevention of mastitis in beef cows. - Background The main goal in beef cow herds is production of healthy calves. To keep calves healthy and fast growing a good start in life is of utmost importance. The milk production of the cow is considered to be an important factor affecting calf growth before weaning [1]. Factors that reduce milk production may therefore have negative impact on calf weaning weights. Mastitis, a multifactorial disease often associated with bacterial intramammary infections (IMI), significantly reduces milk production and causes large economical losses in dairy herds both in its clinical and subclinical form. The knowledge on mastitis in beef cows is, however, limited. Most publications have studied subclinical mastitis or IMI, and were performed in the US. Those studies indicate that the prevalence of subclinical mastitis, measured by milk somatic cell count (SCC) or the California Mastitis Test (CMT), or prevalence of IMI may vary markedly between herds [1-11]. As an example, the within-herd cow prevalence of IMI varied between 7% and 66% in those studies. Studies have indicated that udder health is important for growth of beef calves as subclinical mastitis or IMI in the dams have been associated with a 5-12% reduction of calf weaning weight [1-3,8,11]. Some IMI, especially Staphylococcus aureus, seem to have more negative effects on calf weaning weights than others [1,8,11]. Cows with one or more blind quarters may also have calves with reduced growth [2]. It is well known that clinical mastitis sometimes occurs in Swedish beef cows, but the prevalence of subclinical mastitis and IMI is not known and neither is the distribution of different udder pathogens. Moreover, the prevalence of blind quarters is also unknown. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to investigate these udder health indicators in a number of beef cow herds. Production of -lactamase in staphylococci was also investigated. In addition, associations between certain cow factors and subclinical mastitis and IMI, as well as associations between cow and calf factors and the adjusted 200 day calf weaning weight were studied. Methods Study design Ten beef cow herds were selected based on the following criteria; the herd should be situated in the sout (...truncated)


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Karin Persson Waller, Ylva Persson, Ann-Kristin Nyman, Lena Stengärde. Udder health in beef cows and its association with calf growth, Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 2014, pp. 9, 56, DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-56-9