A descriptive epidemiological study of mastitis in 12 Irish dairy herds

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Husbandry
• Dairy Science

Background:

• Mastitis, characterized by elevated somatic cell count (SCC) and clinical cases, is a significant concern in dairy herds.
• Understanding the multifactorial causes of mastitis is crucial for effective herd management and disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factors associated with mastitis occurrence in Irish dairy herds.
• To identify specific management practices and environmental conditions linked to elevated SCC and clinical mastitis.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of milk recording data from 12 Irish dairy herds.
• Assessment of housing conditions, calving areas, dry cow therapy protocols, clinical mastitis records, milking techniques, and milking machine function.

Main Results:

• Herds with fewer than 110 cubicles per 100 cows had higher rates of environmental mastitis.
• Inadequate calving facilities and prolonged straw bedding increased mastitis risk.
• Poor planning of dry cow therapy and lack of pain management for mastitis cases were common.
• Parlour hygiene deficiencies were observed in all herds with elevated SCC.

Conclusions:

• Environmental factors, including stocking density and calving area management, significantly influence mastitis incidence.
• Strategic planning for dry cow therapy and improved pain management are essential.
• Enhanced parlour hygiene is critical for controlling mastitis in dairy herds.