Development of the Efficient Scheme of Cow Mastitis Prophylaxis
Authors: Avduevskaya N. N. , Semina L. K. , Ivanov E. V. 
Published: March 2024

Introduction. Among many diseases reducing cow milk productivity, mastitis occupies a special place — the milk yield losses due to this widespread infectious disease equal, in average, to 8–15% of the total losses caused by all diseases in cows. Only an integrated approach can ensure achievement of the best results in solving this acute problem. Within the integrated approach, the use of various sanitary disinfectants before and after milking is primary important. To multiply the effect, we decided to combine the disinfecting treatment with the vaccination of cows against mastitis — a preventive measure becoming popular nowadays. The aim of the research is to develop the efficient scheme of cow mastitis prophylaxis based on the comparative efficacy analysis of applying the various disinfectants in immunized and nonimmunized animals.

Materials and Methods. The research was carried out at the premises of the Agricultural Production Cooperative “Plemzavod Maiskii” (Maiskii Breeding Farm) during five months after the vaccination of cows (from November 2021 to March 2022). The cows were vaccinated with the home-developed inactivated associated vaccine against mastitis of cows. The post-milking treatment was carried out with the disinfectants “ProfiClean Iodine” and “Lorena”. For conducting the study, 4 groups of cows per 10 heads each were selected: the control group (in which only “ProfiClean Iodine” disinfectant was used), the experimental groups No. 1 (in which "Lorena" disinfectant was used), No. 2 (in which “ProfiClean Iodine” disinfectant was used in vaccinated animals) and No. 3 (in which “Lorena” disinfectant was used in vaccinated animals). The vaccination efficacy coefficient was calculated according to the formula EC = ((B – A)/B) × 100, where EC is the efficacy coefficient (%); A — is the cow mastitis incidence in vaccinated animals; B — is the cow mastitis incidence in non-vaccinated animals.

Results. It has been established that the efficacy of “ProfiClean Iodine” for mastitis incidence prophylaxis in vaccinated animals compared to the non-vaccinated animals was 78.0%; the same prophylactic efficacy indicator of “Lorena” lotion was 89.0%. Monthly bacteriological examinations of the cow udder secretion resulted in isolation of the Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) culture, which is the prevailing infectious agent of cow mastitis, in 30.0% of cows in the control group. Pathogenic streptococci and enterobacteria have not been isolated. Opportunistic pathogenic staphylococci have been found in the udder secretion of animals in all studied groups, whereas the maximum amounts have been recorded in the control group and group No. 1 (50.0 and 40.0 % respectively) and the minimum – in groups No. 2 and 3 (10.0% each).

Discussion and Conclusion. The research clearly demonstrates the efficacy of the integrated approach in solving the problem of the cow mastitis incidence — the incidence was 4.5 times lower in the experimental group No. 2 and 9.0 times lower in experimental group No. 3 compared to the control group. The combined use of the disinfectants and the inactivated associated vaccine against cow mastitis is a workable scheme providing 78.0 – 89.0% prophylactic efficacy, therefore it can be recommended for implementation into the agricultural enterprises of the appropriate profile.