Evaluation of the effectiveness of a mastitis control program in grad B milk farms of the state of São Paulo

Abstract

The present work aimed to establish relationships between management practices, hygiene and therapy, that are components of a Mastitis Control Program with indication coefficients of prevalence and incidence of mastitis. Data were collected from seven grade "B" milk producing dairy farms, during eleven months (March/91 to February/92), comprising 1,683 lactating cows. Management, hygiene therapy practices evaluated, that are included in a Mastitis Control Program were: 1) Intramammary antibiotic treatment of all dry cows, 2) Instant treatment of clinical mastitis cases, 3) Proper milking management, with special emphasis on teat dipping after milking, 4) Good working condition of milking equipment, 5) Culling/segregation of cows with chronic mastitis, 6) Good hygiene conditions and confort for the cows in the management area. The coefficient used for mastitis prevalence and incidence evaluation were % of cows scored CMT ++/+ + + ,% of new infections and % of chronic infections. Results clearly suggest that all mastitis control practices were effective. Hence, those farms that adopted control practices, most of them showed lowest infection prevalence coefficient.