(1548) 1. Treatment Decisions for Clinical Mastitis: Will Antibiotics Help the Cow?

Introduction to Mastitis and On-Farm Culture

• Dr. Pamela Ru from the University of Wisconsin-Madison introduces a series on improving mastitis treatment through on-farm culture.

Understanding Mastitis

• Mastitis: a bacterial infection of the cow's udder, detected through inflammation.

• Symptoms observed: subclinical (increased somatic cell count) and clinical form (visible signs of disease).

• Inflammation is a response by the cow's immune system aimed at eliminating bacteria.

Importance of On-Farm Culturing

• Around 50% of clinical mastitis cases can be resolved by the cow's immune system before detection.

• Only about 50% of mild and moderate cases actually require antibiotics.

Bacterial Behavior and Treatment

• Different bacteria behave differently in the udder:

  • Infect various parts of the udder.

  • Require different treatments.

  • Have different rates of spontaneous cure.

• Understanding the specific bacteria causing the infection is critical for deciding treatment.

Appropriate Use of Antibiotics

• Antibiotics should only be given to cows that will truly benefit from them.

• Cows that are visibly ill require immediate therapy; on-farm culture is not applicable in these cases.

• Most mild and moderate cases should be carefully evaluated to determine the necessity of antibiotics.

• Antibiotics are generally needed for most cases caused by Gram-positive pathogens (e.g., streptococci, staphylococci).

• Mild cases that are culture negative or caused by Gram-negative bacteria typically do not benefit from antibiotics.

Selective Treatment Protocols

• On-farm culturing is a method for identifying cases that will benefit from antibiotics.

• These treatment approaches lead to better antibiotic usage, reduce antibiotic residues, and usually result in shorter milk withholding times.

• Maintaining cow well-being is also a priority while applying these protocols.

Further Resources

• View the "Managing Mastitis" video series for detailed treatments of specific pathogens.