Bovine mastitis: epidemiology, treatment and control

Authors: McDougall S
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 50, Issue 3 Supplement, pp 81-84, Jun 2002
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Animal production/wastage, Animal remedies/veterinary medicines, Bacterial, Treatment/therapy, Antibiotics, Mastitis, Epidemiology, Mammary gland/udder, Infectious disease, Milk
Article class: Review Article

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Abstract: Mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland commonly associated with bacterial infection) is a highly prevalent and costly disease for the dairy industry. The epidemiology of mastitis, milking techniques, and diagnostic and control methodologies differ in New Zealand compared with overseas production systems, due to the milking of large herds with low labour inputs per cow in a predominantly pasture-based, seasonal-calving management system (Woolford 1986). The high prevalence of Streptococcus uberis in dairy cows in New Zealand has focused research on this pathogen. This review highlights the contributions of New Zealand researchers in understanding the epidemiology, bacteriology and control of mastitis that occurs in New Zealand dairy herds.

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