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Heifer Mastitis
Protecting your Heifers from Early Culling
About a half century ago, reports of heifers getting mastitis began to surface. At that time, it was uncommon to hear of heifers having mastitis. In the past two decades, however research has revealed that mastitis in heifers is more common than first thought. Although, we have become more aware of the problem of heifers with mastitis in today’s dairies there are many steps that today’s dairyman can take in order to keep heifers under control. The following guidelines have been compiled from various research sources to help you protect your heifers.
Guideline for Identifying a Heifer Mastitis Problem in your herd:
1. Monitor the number of clinical mastitis flare-ups in fresh heifers. Greater than 10% of heifers per year with clinical mastitis within the first two weeks of lactation, is an indication of a problem.
2. Culture clinical cases of mastitis in heifers. Staph. Aureus found in the cultures, indicates a problem exists.
3. Use DHIA Reports
a. Herd Summary Sheets are a good start. In the Stage of Lactation Profile, first lactation SCC SCR should be less than mature cows and less than 3.6.
b. Your current Somatic Cell Count Summary should confirm that first lactation cows have the highest percentage of SCC in the range of < 142, 000 SCC/ml.
To determine if the problem is occurring before freshening, mammary secretions from bred heifers can be tested for pathogens. Yellow, honey colored secretions indicate a healthy gland, while watery, cottage cheese secretions indicate the presence of an infection. (The secretions should be taken in an aseptic manner). Keep in mind that SCC taken before 14-21 days in milk should be viewed with caution as they will often be abnormally high during this time period and then return to normal levels.
Different Bacteria Suggests Different Problem Areas
The bacteria that is isolated will point you in the proper direction to begin a prevention program. If contagious bacteria such as Strep. Ag or Staph. Aureus are isolated; focus attention on the feeding and housing practices for pre-weaned calves. Feeding discard milk from mastitis cows, suckling calves or multiple calf housing units may be involved. If other Staph are found, check into teat injuries perhaps from fly bites. When environmental Streps are found, check out the bedding and housing areas especially those for close-up animals.
Sourced from: Mastitis in Dairy Heifers, John Kirk University of California Davis and Heifer Mastitis, Sheila M. Andrew University of Maine
Preventing Heifer Mastitis:
1. Calves should be maintained in separate pens or hutches until at least one week after weaning
2. Watch for suckling heifers: Remove any calf from a group that sucks on other calves
3. Use fly control measures to minimize skin and teats from getting bitten
4. Avoid wet, bacteria-laden areas for resting areas indoors and outdoors
5. Heifers should calve in clean, dry calving areas, separated from other animals
6. Calves should be removed from the dam as soon as possible to prevent suckling
Desired SCC in First Lactation Heifers
DIM= Days in Milk
Sourced: Jones, G.M. & Bailey T.L.. 1998.
Mastitis Control in Heifers and First Lactation. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Available online: www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/dairy/404-281/404-281.html
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Posted Oct 7th
