Bovine herpes mammillitis of dairy cattle in Victoria

The occurrences of bovine herpes mammillitis in the Cohuna and Numurkah districts of northcentral Victoria is described. The disease was characterised by painful swollen teats, necrosis of variable areas of the teat skin, formation of blue-black scabs which sloughed leaving ulcers which were slow to heal. The outbreaks occurred during tspring months of October to mid-December when as many as 90% of milking cows in herds became infected. Epidemiologically the infection behaved as though it was transmitted by insects but proof of insect transmission was not attempted.