Influence of Vacuum Level and Overmilking on Udder Health and Teat Thickness Changes in Dairy Ewes

This study tested the hypotheses that machine milked dairy sheep have a high prevalence of teat-end hyperkeratosis (TEH), which contributes to udder health problems. A random sample of 1360 milking ewes from 28 dairy sheep farms was monitored. Milking procedures, milking parlour characteristics and maintenance were recorded during a designated on farm audit; records were obtained through observations and interviews with farmers. Number of ewes/milker, ewes/milking unit and milkings/milking unit were calculated. Vacuum level, pulsation rate and ratio were measured. Four combinations of vacuum level and pulsation rate were defined; <40 kPa and <150 cycles/min (VP1), <40 kPa and ≥150 cycles/min (VP2), ≥40 kPa and <150 cycles/min (VP3), ≥40 kPa and ≥150 cycles/min (VP4). California Mastitis Test (CMT; scores 0–4) was done on all ewes. Then the udder of each ewe was assessed for TEH (scores 1–4) and ewes were assigned into three groups according to TEH severity (no or mild, medium and severe TEH). Severe TEH (scores 3 and 4) prevalence at teat-level was ca. 13%. TEH severity was associated with the combination of vacuum level and pulsation rate; ewes milked with VP4 combination were more likely to have a one-level increase on TEH severity compared to ewes milked with VP2 and VP3 combinations. More ewes/milker and less ewes/milking unit increased the likelihood of a one-level increase on TEH severity. Finally, ewes with severe TEH were more likely to have a one-level increase on CMT score. Therefore, our hypotheses that TEH is prevalent in dairy ewes and contributes to udder health problems were confirmed. Additionally, farmers can reduce TEH prevalence by optimising the way they milk and their milking parlour.

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Effects of Vacuum Level and Milking Duration on Guernseys and Holsteins Differing with Respect to Lactation Number and Status of Udder Health. II. Milk Yield, Milking Time, and Rate of Milk Flow

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(55)95107-9 ◽

1955 ◽

Vol 38 (11) ◽

pp. 1283-1292 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

E.V. Caruolo ◽

Cecilia M. Dembiczak ◽

R.D. Mochrie ◽

R.E. Johnson ◽

H.D. Eaton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Vacuum Level ◽

Udder Health ◽

Milk Flow

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Use of milk amyloid A in the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in dairy ewes

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029913000484 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 80 (4) ◽

pp. 496-502 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Arianna Miglio ◽

Livia Moscati ◽

Gabriele Fruganti ◽

Michela Pela ◽

Eleonora Scoccia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Farm Income ◽

Control Group ◽

Bacteriological Examination ◽

Udder Health ◽

Elisa Kit ◽

Amyloid A ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Dairy Ewes

Subclinical mastitis (SM) is one of the most important diseases affecting dairy ewes worldwide, with negative impact on the animal health, farm income and public health. Animals with SM often remain untreated because the disease may not be revealed. Increase in somatic cell count (SCC) and positive bacteriology for mastitis pathogens in milk samples are indicative of SM but the evidence of only one of these alterations must suggest an uncertain SM (UM). UM is defined when positive bacteriological examination (Latent-SM) or SCC>500 000 cells/ml (non-specific-SM) are detected in milk. Nevertheless, SCC and bacteriological examination are expensive, time consuming and are not yet in use at the farm level in dairy ewes. Recently, a sensitive acute phase protein, amyloid A, displaying multiple isoforms in plasma and different body fluids including mammary secretion (milk amyloid A-MAA), has been investigated as a marker of mastitis in cows and, in a few studies, in sheep. The aim of this trial was to compare the concentration of MAA of single udder-halves in ewes with healthy udder-halves (HU-control group) and naturally occurring subclinical mastitis, both confirmed (SM group) and uncertain (UM groups: Latent-SM and non-specific-SM), for monitoring udder health. The reliability of a specific ELISA kit for the measurement of MAA was also tested. During a 3-month trial period, 153 udder halves were assigned to the experimental groups based on their health status: 25 with SM, 40 with UM (11 with latent-SM and 29 with non-specific-SM) and 88 HU. SCC and bacteriological analysis were performed to establish the control and subclinical mastitis groups. MAA concentrations in milk samples were measured using a specific commercially milk ELISA kit. The data were submitted to statistical analysis. Significant (P<0·05) differences among the groups SM, non-specific-SM and HU were detected with the SM having the highest level and HU the lowest. MAA concentration is affected by the udder health status and is a useful indicator of subclinical mastitis and increased SCC in sheep.

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