Bacteriological outcomes following random allocation to quarter-level selection based on California Mastitis Test score or cow-level allocation based on somatic cell count for dry cow therapy

ABSTRACT: Intramammary infusion of antimicrobials at the end of lactation (dry cow therapy) has been a cornerstone of mastitis management for many years. However, as only a proportion of cows are infected at this time, treating only those cows likely to be infected is an important strategy to reduce...

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Main Authors: S. McDougall, J. Williamson, J. Lacy-Hulbert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-03-01
Series:Journal of Dairy Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030222000236
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author S. McDougall
J. Williamson
J. Lacy-Hulbert
author_facet S. McDougall
J. Williamson
J. Lacy-Hulbert
author_sort S. McDougall
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: Intramammary infusion of antimicrobials at the end of lactation (dry cow therapy) has been a cornerstone of mastitis management for many years. However, as only a proportion of cows are infected at this time, treating only those cows likely to be infected is an important strategy to reduce antimicrobial usage and minimize risk of emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Such an approach requires the ability to discriminate between cows and quarters likely to be infected and uninfected. This study compared assignment of cows or quarters to antimicrobial treatment at the end of lactation based on cow composite somatic cell count (SCC; i.e., all quarters of cows with a maximum SCC across lactation >200,000 cells/mL received an antimicrobial; n = 891 cows, SCC-group) or assignment to quarter-level treatment based on a quarter level California Mastitis Test (CMT) score ≥ trace (n = 884 cows; CMT-group) performed immediately before drying off. All quarters of all cows also received an infusion of a bismuth-based internal teat sealant. Milk samples were collected for microbiology following the last milking, and again within 4 d of calving. Clinical mastitis records from dry off to 30 d into the subsequent lactation were collected. Multilevel, multivariable models were used to assess the effect of assignment to antimicrobial treatment. At drying off, a total of 575 (8.8%) and 147 (2.3%) of the 6,528 quarters had a minor, and a major intramammary infection (IMI), respectively. At drying off, 2089/3270 (63.9%) and 883/3311 (26.7%) of quarters were treated with dry cow therapy in the CMT and SCC-groups, respectively. Apparent bacteriological cure proportion for any IMI was higher in quarters assigned to the CMT than the SCC-group (349/368 (0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.97) versus 313/346 (0.90, 95% CI 0.87–0.93)). New IMI proportion was lower among quarters assigned to the CMT than SCC-group [101/3,212 (0.032, 95% CI 0.025–0.038) versus 142/3,232 (0.044, 95% CI 0.036–0.051)]. The prevalence of any IMI postcalving was lower in quarters assigned to the CMT than SCC-group [119/3,243 (0.037, 95% CI: 0.030–0.044) versus 173/3,265 (0.054, 95% CI: 0.045–0.062)]. There was no difference in incidence of clinical mastitis between treatment groups. The total mass of antimicrobials used was 63% higher in the CMT-group than in the SCC-group (3.47 versus 2.12 mg/kg of liveweight). Selection of quarters for antimicrobial treatment at the end of lactation based on CMT resulted in greater proportion undergoing bacteriological cure, reduced risk of any new IMI and reduced post calving prevalence of any IMI compared with selection of cows based on SCC. However, CMT-based selection resulted in higher antimicrobial use compared with SCC-based selection, and further research is required to analyze the cost benefit and impact on risk of antimicrobial resistance of these 2 strategies.
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spelling doaj.art-3c81afbd14ef498babef8b4b5c98aa832022-12-22T02:40:14ZengElsevierJournal of Dairy Science0022-03022022-03-01105324532472Bacteriological outcomes following random allocation to quarter-level selection based on California Mastitis Test score or cow-level allocation based on somatic cell count for dry cow therapyS. McDougall0J. Williamson1J. Lacy-Hulbert2Cognosco, Anexa, Morrinsville, New Zealand, 3300; School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand, 4442; Corresponding authorDairyNZ Ltd., Newstead, Hamilton, New Zealand, 3221DairyNZ Ltd., Newstead, Hamilton, New Zealand, 3221ABSTRACT: Intramammary infusion of antimicrobials at the end of lactation (dry cow therapy) has been a cornerstone of mastitis management for many years. However, as only a proportion of cows are infected at this time, treating only those cows likely to be infected is an important strategy to reduce antimicrobial usage and minimize risk of emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Such an approach requires the ability to discriminate between cows and quarters likely to be infected and uninfected. This study compared assignment of cows or quarters to antimicrobial treatment at the end of lactation based on cow composite somatic cell count (SCC; i.e., all quarters of cows with a maximum SCC across lactation >200,000 cells/mL received an antimicrobial; n = 891 cows, SCC-group) or assignment to quarter-level treatment based on a quarter level California Mastitis Test (CMT) score ≥ trace (n = 884 cows; CMT-group) performed immediately before drying off. All quarters of all cows also received an infusion of a bismuth-based internal teat sealant. Milk samples were collected for microbiology following the last milking, and again within 4 d of calving. Clinical mastitis records from dry off to 30 d into the subsequent lactation were collected. Multilevel, multivariable models were used to assess the effect of assignment to antimicrobial treatment. At drying off, a total of 575 (8.8%) and 147 (2.3%) of the 6,528 quarters had a minor, and a major intramammary infection (IMI), respectively. At drying off, 2089/3270 (63.9%) and 883/3311 (26.7%) of quarters were treated with dry cow therapy in the CMT and SCC-groups, respectively. Apparent bacteriological cure proportion for any IMI was higher in quarters assigned to the CMT than the SCC-group (349/368 (0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.97) versus 313/346 (0.90, 95% CI 0.87–0.93)). New IMI proportion was lower among quarters assigned to the CMT than SCC-group [101/3,212 (0.032, 95% CI 0.025–0.038) versus 142/3,232 (0.044, 95% CI 0.036–0.051)]. The prevalence of any IMI postcalving was lower in quarters assigned to the CMT than SCC-group [119/3,243 (0.037, 95% CI: 0.030–0.044) versus 173/3,265 (0.054, 95% CI: 0.045–0.062)]. There was no difference in incidence of clinical mastitis between treatment groups. The total mass of antimicrobials used was 63% higher in the CMT-group than in the SCC-group (3.47 versus 2.12 mg/kg of liveweight). Selection of quarters for antimicrobial treatment at the end of lactation based on CMT resulted in greater proportion undergoing bacteriological cure, reduced risk of any new IMI and reduced post calving prevalence of any IMI compared with selection of cows based on SCC. However, CMT-based selection resulted in higher antimicrobial use compared with SCC-based selection, and further research is required to analyze the cost benefit and impact on risk of antimicrobial resistance of these 2 strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030222000236dry cow therapycow-selectionCalifornia Mastitis Test
spellingShingle S. McDougall
J. Williamson
J. Lacy-Hulbert
Bacteriological outcomes following random allocation to quarter-level selection based on California Mastitis Test score or cow-level allocation based on somatic cell count for dry cow therapy
Journal of Dairy Science
dry cow therapy
cow-selection
California Mastitis Test
title Bacteriological outcomes following random allocation to quarter-level selection based on California Mastitis Test score or cow-level allocation based on somatic cell count for dry cow therapy
title_full Bacteriological outcomes following random allocation to quarter-level selection based on California Mastitis Test score or cow-level allocation based on somatic cell count for dry cow therapy
title_fullStr Bacteriological outcomes following random allocation to quarter-level selection based on California Mastitis Test score or cow-level allocation based on somatic cell count for dry cow therapy
title_full_unstemmed Bacteriological outcomes following random allocation to quarter-level selection based on California Mastitis Test score or cow-level allocation based on somatic cell count for dry cow therapy
title_short Bacteriological outcomes following random allocation to quarter-level selection based on California Mastitis Test score or cow-level allocation based on somatic cell count for dry cow therapy
title_sort bacteriological outcomes following random allocation to quarter level selection based on california mastitis test score or cow level allocation based on somatic cell count for dry cow therapy
topic dry cow therapy
cow-selection
California Mastitis Test
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030222000236
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