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Effects of Prepartum Intramammary Antibiotic Therapy on Udder Health, Milk Production, and Reproductive Performance in Dairy Heifers

A. A. Borm^*, L. K. Fox^*,,1, K. E. Leslie, J. S. Hogan, S. M. Andrew^#, K. M. Moyes^#, S. P. Oliver^||, Y. H. Schukken^¶, D. D. Hancock, C. T. Gaskins^*, W. E. Owens^** and C. Norman^**

^* Department of Animal Sciences, and
College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman 99164
Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1
Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Wooster 43210
^# Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269
^|| Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996
^¶ Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
^** Dairy Research and Extension Center, Louisiana State University, Homer 71040

¹ Corresponding author: fox{at}wsu.edu

Preparturient heifers (n = 561) from 9 herds in 6 US states and 1 Canadian province were enrolled in a study to test the hypothesis that prepartum intramammary therapy would cure existing intramammary infections (IMI) and lead to increased milk production, reduced linear somatic cell count (LSCC), and improved reproductive performance. Mammary secretions were collected 10 to 21 d before expected calving from each quarter. Heifers were then assigned by identification number to receive intramammary therapy consisting of infusion of one tube per mammary quarter of a lactating cow commercial antibiotic preparation containing cephapirin or to a nontreated control group. Overall, 34.1% of mammary quarters were infected with a mastitis pathogen before parturition and 63.4% of heifers had at least one mammary quarter infected. The coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) caused the majority (74.8%) of prepartum IMI. Coagulase-positive staphylococci, environmental streptococci, and coliforms accounted for 24.5% of prepartum infections. Treatment had a significant effect on the cure rate of infected mammary quarters. Mammary quarters that were infected prepartum and treated with antibiotics had a 59.5% efficacy of cure rate and the percentage reduction in heifers with IMI was 51.9. Control quarters had a spontaneous cure rate of 31.7%. Treatment did not significantly affect milk production or LSCC in the first 200 d of lactation; however, there was a significant treatment by herd interaction for milk production. Quarters cured of either CNS or major pathogens had a lower LSCC in the first 200 d of lactation. No significant effect on services per conception or days open between treatment and control groups was observed. This trial demonstrated that prepartum intramammary antibiotic therapy did reduce the number of heifer IMI postpartum. Milk production, LSCC, and reproductive performance during the first 200 d of the first lactation were not significantly affected by treatment. Given these results, use of prepartum intramammary antibiotic therapy in heifers as a universal strategy to increase milk production in first-lactation dairy cows may not be warranted.

Key Words: mastitis • antibiotic treatment • heifer • health

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				C. W. R. Compton, C. Heuer, K. Parker, and S. McDougall Risk Factors for Peripartum Mastitis in Pasture-Grazed Dairy Heifers J Dairy Sci, September 1, 2007; 90(9): 4171 - 4180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]