Management Practices Associated with the Incidence Rate of Clinical Mastitis

¹ Animal Health Service, PO Box 361, 9200 AJ Drachten, The Netherlands
² Department of Herd Health and Reproduction, Utrecht University, PO Box 80151, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
³ Veterinary Clinic Ureterp, Weibuorren 1/aa, 9247 AX Ureterp, The Netherlands

Risk factors for the incidence rate of clinical mastitis were studied in 274 Dutch dairy herds. Variables that were associated with resistance to disease were the feeding, housing, and milking machine factors. Variables that were associated with exposure were grazing, combined housing of dry cows and heifers, and calving area hygiene. Postmilking teat disinfection in herds with a low bulk milk somatic cell count and years of practicing dry cow therapy were positively associated with the incidence rate of clinical mastitis. Herds with a low bulk milk somatic cell count and in which postmilking teat disinfection was not used had lower incidence rates of clinical mastitis than did other herds.

The incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Escherichia coli was mostly related to housing conditions, hygiene, and machine milking. The incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus was mostly related to factors associated with bulk milk somatic cell count and factors that might be due to cause and effect reversal. A strong positive correlation existed between the incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae and the incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Staph. aureus. The incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae was related to nutrition, milking technique, and machine milking. The incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus uberis was associated with factors related to housing, nutrition, and machine milking.

Key Words: clinical mastitis • risk factors • pathogens • management

Submitted on February 9, 1998
Accepted on March 25, 1999

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