Mastitis

Abstract: Several studies have been published since 1990 on the economics of mastitis and mastitis management However, hardly any of these studies has discussed the consistency of results with other studies In the present paper, the economic factors associated with mastitis are explained, providing a framework for economic analysis As a second step calculations of the costs of mastitis and the costs in relation to the benefits of mastitis management published since 1990 in peer-reviewed journals are extensively reviewed and analysed The result shows a large variation in the calculated costs and benefits of mastitis and mastitis management between the different studies Moreover, it is clear that important factors were ignored in some of the studies The framework provided in this paper can provide a basis for analysis for future studies on the economics of mastitis and mastitis management

Abstract: Mastitis remains a major challenge to the worldwide dairy industry despite the widespread implementation of mastitis control strategies. The last forty years have seen a dramatic decrease in clinical mastitis incidence but this has been accompanied by a change in the relative and absolute importance of different pathogens. Escherichia coli andStreptococcus uberis are now the two most common causes of bovine mastitis and are an increasing problem in low somatic cell count herds. This paper reviews the changes in incidence and pattern of mastitis in the UK over the last four decades and discusses some of the possible explanations for these changes. It focuses in particular on apparent changes in the behaviour ofE. coli and its ability to cause persistent intramammary infection; which may be as a result of bacterial adaptation or the unmasking of previously unrecognized patterns of pathogenesis. The prospects for novel approaches to mastitis control are discussed, as are the current and future challenges facing the industry.