Abstract

Mastitis pathogens isolated from samples of milk in dairy cows herds of Slovak spotted cattle

Author(s): Zigo F, Elečko J, Vasiľ M, Ondrašovičová S, Zigová M, Takáč L, Takáčová J and Vlastimil Šimek

Breeding of ruminants with market milk production represents a significant proportion of livestock production in Slovakia. Mastitis is one of the biggest problems of dairy producer’s cause’s great losses in the livestock economy. Cows that are infected with mastitis generally produce less milk, use longer time to get pregnant, lose more body condition, and are also more likely to be culled early. Besides affecting production and the profitability it also has a major impact on the welfare of the cows.
The aim of this study was to evaluate occurrence and etiology of mastitis in two dairy herds of Slovak spotted cattle. The diagnosis of mastitis was performed based on clinical examination of the udder, macroscopic evaluation of milk, with the evaluation of Californian mastitis test (CMT) and bacteriological analysis of individual raw milk samples. From total 904 and 612 quarter cow’s milk samples were 26,1% and 13,5% positive to CMT, respectively. The prevalence of intramammary infection (IMI) in the monitored herds of cows was 17.0% to 12.4%, respectively. In both herds were confirmed predominantly subclinical forms of IMI. The highest percentage of etiological agents in all monitored herds had coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) and coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) especially Staphylococcus aureus. Except for staphylococci were E. coli, Aerococcus viridans and Streptococcus spp. most frequently pathogens isolated from dairy cows. Given the variety of factors causing IMI milk production and economic prosperity of dairy herds will primarily depend on the expertise and skills to implement preventive anti-mastitis methods, and technological systems to own agricultural production. PDF