A pathological and bacteriological study of the mammary glands of beef cows in north Queensland

Pathological and bacteriological studies were made of a total of 507 udders from slaughtered beef cows originating from various locations in northern Queensland. Incidence of supernumerary tests was 28%, their distribution being caudal (80%), intercalary (8%), ramal (5%) and anterior 1%; 6% had both caudal and intercalary teats. They were seen most frequency in British breed and British-Brahman crossbreds (each 29%) and less frequently in Brahmans (22%). Gross lesions were found in 11.4% of cows; these lesions comprised cysts (2.8%), leech infestation (1.0%), mastitis (0.6%), teat occlusionsion (3.9%), papillomatosis (1.2%), cutaneous horns (0.4%), teat fistulas (0.4%), teat trauma (0.6%) and udder fibrosis (0.6%). Mastitis was obviously low in occurrence, while leech infestation and teat occlusion were relatively frequent in cows from one area. Bacteriological examination of single quarters in 364 cows, revealed infection in 154 (42.3%). A total of 199 isolations were made of which 3.5% were recognised mastitis pathogens. Pathological conditions were found, and bacterial isolations were made more frequently in aged than in mature or young cows.