Premium
THE PREVALENCE OF UDDER INFECTION AND MASTITIS IN HERDS PRODUCING BULK MILK WITH EITHER CONSISTENTLY HIGH OR LOW CELL COUNT
Author(s) -
Wanasinghe D.D.,
Frost A.J.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1979.tb15861.x
Subject(s) - herd , streptococcus agalactiae , mastitis , udder , somatic cell count , veterinary medicine , staphylococcus aureus , california mastitis test , biology , zoology , medicine , lactation , streptococcus , microbiology and biotechnology , pregnancy , ice calving , bacteria , genetics
SUMMARY: Quarter samples from twenty‐five dairy herds, representing 223 herds supplying direct to Brisbane, were cultured and submitted to the Wisconsin Mastitis Test (WMT). Thirteen herds had a history of producing bulk milk with a consistently high WMT score (> 15 mm) and in twelve herds the WMT score was consistently low. Prevalence of infection was higher in group A herds (22.2% quarters were infected with Staphylococcus aureus or streptococci) than in group B herds (9.5% of quarters were infected). There was considerable scatter of prevalence among both groups of herds. Overall, S. aureus was found in 19% of cows and 7% of quarters, and Streptococcus agalactiae in 15% of cows and 7% of quarters. Quarters from group A herds showed a higher WMT score than those in group B herds whether infected with S. aureus, Str. agalactiae , micrococci or yielded no detectable organisms. It was concluded that regular surveys are required of the high cell count herds to monitor mastitis status in the industry.