Causes and Prevention Methods of Mastitis in Dairy Cows
Dairy cows are one of the main cattle breeds raised for farming, and their economic value lies mainly in milk production. Milk is an important source for many dairy products and is also the main source of income for farmers. However, as farming scale expands, the incidence of mastitis in dairy cows continues to rise, causing huge economic losses to the dairy industry. So what are the causes of mastitis in dairy cows? How should it be prevented and treated? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction from Qinnong Network.
1. Analysis of Causes
Mastitis in dairy cows is an inflammation caused by external stimulation of the mammary glands, and there are many triggering causes. For example, mechanical injury during milking due to improper operation can cause trauma to the mammary glands, or when cleaning the udder, the tools used may be unsanitary or the operation improper, all of which can cause the disease. In addition, if the rearing environment is unsanitary, many pathogens may breed and invade the udder, causing the disease. Feeding spoiled or moldy feed, improper use of drugs, and low resistance of the dairy cow itself can all trigger this disease.
2. Symptoms
After a dairy cow develops mastitis, it shows poor spirits, reduced appetite, and elevated body temperature. The most obvious sign is redness, swelling, and congestion of the udder. When touched, it feels inelastic and slightly hard, and the cow experiences pain. Milk flow is not smooth, and the milk becomes cloudy, viscous, and yellow in color. In severe cases, floccules or milk clots may appear, with a fishy odor, and milk production is extremely low, affecting income. In some cows with severe disease, permanent damage to the mammary glands may occur, causing loss of lactation function. Mastitis can be divided into acute mastitis, chronic mastitis, and subclinical mastitis. Among these, acute mastitis and chronic mastitis can be diagnosed from symptoms, and the difference between them lies only in the speed of onset. Subclinical mastitis, as the name suggests, is difficult to detect from appearance, but it affects milk production. It can be detected by measuring the pH of the milk. If the milk is alkaline, it indicates mastitis, and the higher the alkalinity of the milk, the more severe the condition, so timely treatment is needed.
3. Prevention and Treatment Methods
Because there are three types of udder symptoms, with acute cases developing rapidly and subclinical cases being invisible in appearance, the best treatment time is often missed. Therefore, prevention is generally the main approach, with treatment as a supplement. First, good hygiene in the rearing environment must be maintained. The barn must be kept clean and sanitary, manure and waste must be cleaned regularly, bedding must be replaced in time, and the barn must be kept dry and clean, with good ventilation and frequent airing. In addition, the temperature and humidity of the barn are closely related to the occurrence of mastitis. The higher the temperature and humidity in the barn, the more likely it is to cause physiological disorder in dairy cows and lower resistance. In a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, bacteria and microorganisms are very likely to breed and multiply, thus increasing the incidence rate.
In addition to doing a good job with the barn environment, regular disinfection and sterilization of the barn must also be carried out to prevent large-scale bacterial reproduction and harm to the dairy cows. This is not limited to disinfection of the barn; disinfection of the farming site, workers, and transport environment must also be done well. During milking, attention must also be paid to timing and method. The daily milking time should be fixed to form a good biological clock. Before milking, cleaning work should also be done, and the udder and milking equipment should be disinfected to ensure that the dairy cow is not infected by bacteria during milking. Treatment must be timely. Common treatment methods include massage therapy, hot compress therapy, infrared therapy, Chinese herbal medicine therapy, and vaccination.
The above is the introduction from Qinnong Network on the causes and prevention methods of mastitis in dairy cows. That concludes the content about mastitis. I believe everyone now has some understanding of its causes and prevention methods. For more information, please stay tuned to Qinnong Network.