Udder health, treatments and pathogens in organic dairy herds in the Netherlands

E.A.A. Smolders; J. van der Werf; D. van de Mortel; A. Kijlstra

Udder health, treatments and pathogens in organic dairy herds in the Netherlands

In: Mastitis in dairy production

Authors:

E.A.A. Smolders

E.A.A. Smolders Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, the Netherlands

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J. van der Werf

J. van der Werf Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, the Netherlands

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D. van de Mortel

D. van de Mortel Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, the Netherlands

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A. Kijlstra

A. Kijlstra Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, the Netherlands

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 248–253

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086865505_034

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83 organic dairy farmers in the Netherlands were questioned about management and risk factors for poor udder health, treatment of mastitis and their strategies for good udder health. Milk recording data, including cow somatic cell count (SCC), and bulk tank milk cell count (BMSCC) from 2001 until 2003 were collected. All quarters of high cell count cows (> 250,000 cells/ml; heifers>150,000) were sampled for SCC and pathogens. The aim of the study was to determine the range of problems in udder health and to investigate management and treatment strategies practiced by farmers to maintain good udder health in organic dairy herds.

Sub clinical mastitis is a frequent occurring health problem in organic dairy herds in the Netherlands. The percentage of cows with high SCC ranged between 10 - 52. Eighty percent of the farmers used antibiotics against clinical mastitis as the only treatment or in combination with other treatments such as frequent milking, homeopathy and massage with peppermint oil. Homeopathy was used on more than 50% of the farms but only 10% of the farmers used it without antibiotics. The percentage of high cell count cows on farms using antibiotics to treat clinical mastitis ranged between 10 - 46; on farms not using antibiotics in treating clinical mastitis this figure ranged between 12 - 52%. Some farmers succeed in maintaining good udder health with preventive measures without the use of antibiotics. Ten percent of BMSCC were above the Dutch penalty limit of 400.000 cells/ml milk. Streptococcus uberis (19.6%), Staphylococcus aureus (16.1%) and Staphylococcus not aureus (45.1%) were the most common pathogens in the culture positive samples of high SCC cows. Types of pathogens in organic milk samples did not significantly differ from those in conventional milk samples.

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Mastitis in dairy production

Current knowledge and future solutions

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086865505

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 24 Oct 2005

Subjects
- Life Sciences

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Udder health, treatments and pathogens in organic dairy herds in the Netherlands

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Mastitis in dairy production

Current knowledge and future solutions

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