Mastitis vaccination using a commercial polyvalent vaccine or a herd-specific Staphylococcus aureus vaccine

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (04) ◽  
pp. 219-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Hamedy ◽  
Oliver Passarge ◽  
Axel Sobiraj ◽  
Markus Freick ◽  
Yvonne Frank ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Health State ◽  
Udder Health ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Cell Counts

Summary Objective of this study was the improvement of selected parameters of udder health by mastitis vaccination in a dairy herd with elevated bulk milk somatic cell counts and Staphylococcus (S.) aureus as predominant mastitis causing pathogen. Material and methods: On a dairy farm, pregnant heifers (status group [SG] 1; n = 181) as well as cows stratified for their udder health state (classification based on results of cytobacteriological investigations of quarter milk samples obtained before dry cow therapy [MS0]) (SG 2–4; n = 416) were randomly assigned to one of the following vaccination groups (VG): Startvac® (VG SV), Bestvac® Rind Mastitis (containing herd-specific S. aureus-strains; VG BV) and the unvaccinated control (VG Co, placebo), respectively. The collected data (5 [MS5] and 52 [MS52] days in milk [DIM]: quarter milk somatic cell count [QSCC] and bacteriological investigation of quarter milk samples; dairy herd improvement test [DHIT] days 1–10: milk yield and individual cow somatic cell count; until 305 DIM: clinical mastitis cases) were compared between the VG within their SG. Results: S. aureus prevalences were significantly lower in VG SV (p < 0.001) and VG BV (p = 0.006) within SG 3 and in VG SV (p = 0.008) within SG 4, respectively, in comparison to VG Co. Milk yields (DHIT days [p = 0.042] and 305-day milk yield [p = 0.040]) were significantly less in VG SV within SG 4 compared to VG Co. Significant different changes over time in comparison to VG Co indicating a vaccine effect during lactation were only observed for QSCC within SG 4 for VG BV (p = 0.017; increase towards MS52) and for S. aureus prevalence within SG 3 for VG BV (p < 0.001; opposing trends from MS0 towards MS52). All other interactions of time and VG under investigation were not significant in any of the SG. Furthermore, there were no descriptive differences in the incidence of clinical mastitis and duration of a necessary mastitis therapy, respectively, between the VG within their SG. Conclusion: In this field study, the application of two different mastitis vaccines was not an appropriate tool to improve the considered parameters of udder health sustainably.

scholarly journals Connection of somatic cell count and milk yield as well as composition in dairy ewes

2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-100
Author(s):  
J. Olechnowicz ◽  
Z. Sobek ◽  
J. M. Jaśkowski ◽  
P. Antosik ◽  
D. Bukowska
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Dairy Ewes ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Daily Milk

Abstract. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of somatic cell count (SCC) on milk yield and composition using a threshold value of 250 ∙103 cells/ml in dairy ewes of line 05. A total of 1 512 milk samples from udder halves were collected throughout milking periods at monthly intervals. In the present study milk composition (from halves of the udder) and daily milk yield (from udders) was examined in terms of SCC in ewe milk in three groups: from both halves of the udder below 250 ∙103 cells/ml, from one halves of the udder below 250 ∙103 cells/ml and from second half udder above 250 ∙103 cells/ml and from both halves of the udder above 250 ∙103 cells/ml. Milk yield from udders, somatic cell count in milk samples from udder halves and milk composition depended on the level of SCC recorded for halves of the udder. Somatic cell counts in milk from one or both halves of udders exceeding 250 ∙103 cells/ ml resulted in a statistically significant (P<0.01) decrease in daily milk production of ewes, by approx. 15.89 and 30.22 %, respectively. The analysis of variance showed also a significant effect of parity and stage of lactation of ewes on somatic cell count (log SCC) and milk composition from udder halves below 250 ∙103 cells/ml.

scholarly journals The milkability and somatic cell counts of milk cows in various systems of keeping and milking

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (5-6-1) ◽  
pp. 209-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Mijic ◽  
I. Knezevic ◽  
M. Matkovic ◽  
M. Baban ◽  
Z. Ivkic
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Udder Health ◽  
Somatic Cell Counts ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Milk Cows

A high milk production, time limited milking and healthy udders are priority tasks at milking farms. The aim of our research was to study how different ways of keeping (free rang and tying) and milking (milking parlour, bucket machine and pipeline milking) influence on the mentioned cattle characteristics. Investigation was conducted at four milking farms and 382 Holstein cows in eastern Croatia. The variance analysis has shown significant difference (P<0,05) among researched farms for the milk yield per milking (MYM), the somatic cell count (LSCC) and the maximum milk flowing rate (MFR). Farms at which cows were kept and milked bound up in stables had more problems with udder health than farms at which milking was conducted at milking places. Also at these farms (at which cows were kept and milked bound up in stables) the maximum milk flowing rate was uneven, what was caused by uneven vacuum and obsoletes milking equipment. Keeping cows free at the stable and milking at a milking place have appeared to be more appropriate for cow?s udder health, what finally influences a higher milking production. Such farms should be the future of modern milking production in Croatia.

scholarly journals The presence of pathogens in milk of ewes in relation to the somatic cell count and subpopulations of leukocytes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tvarožková ◽  
Vašíček ◽  
Uhrinčať ◽  
Mačuhová ◽  
Hleba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Subclinical Mastitis ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Polymorphonuclear Cells ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Major Health Problem ◽  
Milk Samples

Mastitis is a major health problem of the udder in dairy sheep breeds. For diagnosis of subclinical mastitis, somatic cell count (SCC) is commonly used. The presence of pathogens in the udder causes the increase of leukocytes and thus SCC in milk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of pathogens in the milk of ewes and the possible relationship with SCC. The changes of leukocytes subpopulation in milk samples with high SCC were evaluated as well. The experiment was carried out on a dairy farm with the Lacaune breed. This study was conducted on 45 ewes (98 milk samples) without signs of clinical mastitis. Based on somatic cell count, samples were divided to five SCC groups: SCC1 &lt; 200 000 cells/ml (45 milk samples); 200 000 ≤ SCC2 &lt; 400 000 cells/ml (10 milk samples); 400 000 ≤ SCC3 &lt; 600 000 cells/ml (six milk samples); 600 000 ≤ SCC4 &lt; 1 000 000 cells/ml (six milk samples); SCC5 ≥ 1 000 000 cells/ml (31 milk samples). No pathogens were observed in the majority of milk samples (60.20%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the most commonly isolated pathogens from the milk of ewes (86.11%). Staphylococcus epidermidis had the highest incidence from CNS (35.48%). In the SCC5 group, up to 79.31% of bacteriological samples were positive. The percentage of leukocytes significantly increased (P &lt; 0.001) in the samples with higher SCC (≥ 200 × 10<sup>3</sup> cells/ml) in comparison to the group SCC1. Also, the percentage of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) was significantly higher with increasing SCC (P &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, the presented results showed that the high SCC was caused by the presence of the pathogen in milk. Thus SCC &lt; 200 000 cells/ml and leukocyte subpopulation, especially PMNs, could be considered as important tools in udder health programs applied in dairy ewes.

scholarly journals Prediction of total quarter milk somatic cell counts based on foremilk sampling

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Wellnitz ◽  
Marcus G Doherr ◽  
Marta Woloszyn ◽  
Rupert M Bruckmaier
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Practical Reasons ◽  
Udder Health ◽  
Somatic Cell Counts ◽  
Cell Numbers ◽  
Cell Counts

Determination of somatic cell count (SCC) is used worldwide in dairy practice to describe the hygienic status of the milk and the udder health of cows. When SCC is tested on a quarter level to detect single quarters with high SCC levels of cows for practical reasons, mostly foremilk samples after prestimulation (i.e. cleaning of the udder) are used. However, SCC is usually different in different milk fractions. Therefore, the goal of this study was the investigation of the use of foremilk samples for the estimation of total quarter SCC. A total of 378 milkings in 19 dairy cows were performed with a special milking device to drain quarter milk separately. Foremilk samples were taken after udder stimulation and before cluster attachment. SCC was measured in foremilk samples and in total quarter milk. Total quarter milk SCC could not be predicted precisely from foremilk SCC measurements. At relatively high foremilk SCC levels (>300×103 cells/ml) foremilk SCC were higher than total quarter milk. At around (50–300)×103 cells/ml foremilk and total quarter SCC did not differ considerably. Most interestingly, if foremilk SCC was lower than 50×103 cells/ml the total quarter SCC was higher than foremilk SCC. In addition, individual cows showed dramatic variations in foremilk SCC that were not very well related to total quarter milk SCC. In conclusion, foremilk samples are useful to detect high quarter milk SCC to recognize possibly infected quarters, only if precise cell counts are not required. However, foremilk samples can be deceptive if very low cell numbers are to be detected.

Reliability of the bulk milk somatic cell count as an indication of average herd somatic cell count

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Lievaart ◽  
Herman W Barkema ◽  
Henk Hogeveen ◽  
Wim Kremer
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Subclinical Mastitis ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Bulk Milk ◽  
Sampling Variation ◽  
The Difference

Bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) is a frequently used parameter to estimate the subclinical mastitis prevalence in a dairy herd, but it often differs considerably from the average SCC of all individual cows in milk. In this study, first the sampling variation was determined on 53 dairy farms with a BMSCC ranging from 56 000 to 441 000 cells/ml by collecting five samples on each farm of the same bulk tank. The average absolute sampling variation ranged from 1800 to 19 800 cells/ml. To what extent BMSCC represents all lactating cows was evaluated in another 246 farms by comparing BMSCC to the average herd SCC corrected for milk yield (CHSCC), after the difference was corrected for the sampling variation of BMSCC. On average BMSCC was 49 000 cells/ml lower than CHSCC, ranging from −10 000 cells/ml to 182 000 cells/ml, while the difference increased with an increasing BMSCC. Subsequently, management practices associated with existing differences were identified. Farms with a small (<20%) difference between BMSCC and CHSCC administered intramuscular antibiotics for the treatment of clinical mastitis more often, used the high SCC history when cows were dried off more frequently and had a higher number of treatments per clinical mastitis case compared with farms with a large (⩾20%) difference. Farms feeding high-SCC milk or milk with antibiotic residues to calves were 2·4-times more likely to have a large difference. Although sampling variation influences the differences between BMSCC and CHSCC, the remaining difference is still important and should be considered when BMSCC is used to review the average herd SCC and the subclinical mastitis prevalence.

scholarly journals Dry Period Length as Related to Milk Yield and SCC During the First Month of Subsequent Lactation

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Sawa ◽  
Sylwia Krężel-Czopek ◽  
Mariusz Bogucki
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Period Length ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Udder Health ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Clinical Changes ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
Daily Milk

Abstract Analysis was made of the effect of dry period length in primiparous and multiparous cows on daily milk yield during the first month of subsequent lactation and on milk somatic cell count (SCC) on the basis of the information about the test-day milkings of 59 138 cows. The GLM and FREQ procedures of the SAS package were used in the statistical calculations. Dry period length in the primiparous and multiparous cows had a significant effect (P≤0.01) on daily milk yield and udder health, determined based on SCC. In terms of milk yield, the most favourable dry period would be 51-70 days for both primiparous and multiparous cows. Depending on udder health, a dry period of 51-90 days can be suggested. Shorter dry periods had more undesirable effects than longer dry periods. Excessively shortened dry period (≤10 days) caused the daily milk yield to decrease by 17% in primiparous and by 13% in multiparous cows while increasing the risk of clinical changes of the cow’s udder, regardless of age. The proportion of milk samples that showed evidence of clinical mastitis also increased when the dry period was excessively long (>90 days), especially in multiparous cows.

Interquarter comparison of markers of subclinical mastitis: somatic cell count, electrical conductivity, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and antitrypsin

1991 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Einar Jensen ◽  
Kim Knudsen
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Total Variation ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Experimental Error ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Health State ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
The Individual

SummaryWe have evaluated the usefulness in mastitis diagnostics of new diagnostic measures using the continuous nature of the variation in quarter milk samples of four inflammatory markers: somatic cell count, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30), electrical conductivity and antitrypsin. A two-way analysis of variance was performed for each of the inflammatory markers on results from 273 cows sampled six times at 14 d intervals. Adjustment for the individual cow's mean removed approximately half the total variation for all four markers, indicating that comparisons in marker levels between quarters without taking the cows' overall level into account, as is done in diagnostic keys based on fixed threshold, is a rash procedure. After adjusting for the individual cow means, the total variation of the marker observations was partitioned in three sources of variation: between the four quarter levels, between different sampling days, and the experimental error, i.e. the variation within each quarter over-the study period. As expected, the variation between quarters accounted for the largest percentage of the variation (44–65%). In contrast the variation between days was only 16–34% and of the same magnitude as the experimental error. These figures can profitably be taken into account when designing experiments in future mastitis research studies. They imply that mastitis diagnostics based on quarter milk samples collected over time will be influenced only slightly by random biological variation and that the same relative differences that exist in marker levels between the four quarters of a cow as a rule will be disclosed irrespective of sampling day. Thus, the udder health state is relatively stable when determined by these inflammatory markers. In addition to simple correlations between markers measured on the same day, correlations of the logarithm of the interquarter ratios and of the experimental errors were computed. Stronger associations between the markers emerged and these correlations reflect more precisely than simple correlations the real diagnostic relations of the markers.

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SPEED OF MILKING AND SOMATIC CELL COUNT AND PRODUCTION IN HOLSTEINS

1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 781-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. MOORE ◽  
J. E. MOXLEY ◽  
B. W. KENNEDY ◽  
E. B. BURNSIDE
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Heritability Estimate ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
The Relationship

Milking speed data were obtained for 2604 Holstein-Friesian cows, identified by sire, in test herds located in Quebec and Ontario. Milk samples were collected from each cow and analyzed for somatic cell count. Completed or projected lactation production records were available for this sample of cows. Two-minute yield and total milking time were adjusted for the effect of milk yield at sampling and the raw cell counts were transformed to the natural log scale. Sire and error variances were obtained by maximum likelihood (ML) methods and used to estimate heritabilities of and correlations between traits. The heritability estimate for the adjusted 2-min. yield, 0.23, was higher than that for the adjusted total milking time (0.13), with the estimates for the two unadjusted measures being intermediate (0.18). The phenotypic correlations between milking speed and somatic cell count were small. However, there were two distinct linear phases to the relationship between the adjusted 2-min yield and cell count. Small but significant phenotypic correlations were observed between unadjusted measures of milking speed and lactation production (0.11–0.22); however, correlations were not significant when adjustments were made for the milk yield at sampling. Genetic correlations between milking speed and somatic cell count were moderate to large and indicated an antagonistic relationship between faster milking speed and cell count. Also, the genetic correlations suggested some antagonism between increasing 2-min yield and lactation production, while the relationship between lactation traits and milking time was small. Key words: Milking speed, somatic cell count, correlations, heritabilities, Holsteins

scholarly journals The relationships between the somatic cell counts in the milk and the fertility of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 433-439
Author(s):  
K Siatka ◽  
A Sawa ◽  
M Bogucki ◽  
D Piwczynski ◽  
S Krezel-Czopek
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Production Level ◽  
Udder Health ◽  
Natural Logarithm ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Service Period ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between the somatic cell counts in the milk (the udder health status indicator) and the cow’s fertility, taking the influence of the selected factors into account. The udder health status was determined based on the somatic cell count of the milk from 88 745 test-day records from 55 685 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows. The test-day measurements were made up to 30 days before the first insemination, during the period up to 180 days of the first and second lactation. Because the somatic cell count showed high variation and is not normally distributed, the data were transformed to the natural logarithm scale. Based on the results of the statistical analysis, it was shown that with the increase in the number of somatic cells in the milk, the calving intervals were extended by 11 days (P ≤ 0.01), the service period by around 4 days (P ≤ 0.05), the increase in the services per conception by 0.11 (P ≤ 0.01). There was a statistically significant correlation, weak on the Guilford scale, between the natural logarithm of the somatic cell count and the fertility of the cows: the calving interval – CI (r = 0.050**, P ≤ 0.01), service period – SP (r = 0.016**) end services per conception – SPC (r = 0.019**). Monitoring the number of somatic cells in the milk could contribute to improving the fertility of the cows in particular: in the second lactation in the double lactation (for the CI (r = 0.059**)); in herds with a production level of 7000–9000 kg of milk (for the CI (r = 0.055**), the SP (r = 0.022**) and the SPC (r = 0.024**)); the daily productivity of &gt; 40 kg (for the CI (r = 0.052**), the SP (r = 0.033**) and the SPC (r = 0.029**)), the number of cows in the herd of &gt; 200 (for the CI (r = 0.061**), the SP (r = 0.034**) and the SPC (r = 0.033**)), in the autumn season of the first insemination (for the CI (r = 0.072**), the SP (r = 0.027**) and the SPC (r = 0.031**)). The magnitude of these correlations varied within the classes of the factors such as the daily production level, the age of cows´ lactation number, the season of the first insemination, the herd production level, and the herd size. It appears that the somatic cell count results obtained from the periodic milk recording, considered as an indirect measure of the udder health and used when deciding on the mastitis treatment, could be a useful tool for controlling the fertility in the cows.

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