New dry cow antimicrobial launched

There are approximately one million incidents of clinical mastitis every year which not only has a major effect on milk production, but also provides a big challenge to dairy farmers and vets as cows with apparently normal milk can harbour sub-clinical intramammary infections.

The National Institute into Research into Dairying (NIRD) introduced the five-point mastitis control plan in the 1960s to help control the disease and a central cornerstone of the recommendations was the use of antibiotic dry cow therapy at the end of each and every lactation.  At the time the plan was launched, dry cow therapy tackled predominantly gram-positive contagious bacteria which were responsible for incidences of clinical mastitis, at levels around three times higher than today.  Nowadays, however, the disease has evolved and there are 50% more environmental mastitis pathogens isolated than those traditional pathogens which were identified in the '60s.

At a recent conference on 'the changes in mastitis over recent years', Andrew Biggs, a dairy vet from Tiverton in Devon, commented: "The five-point plan was right for the situation at the time, but things have changed and some modifications were needed to cope with the greater importance of environmental infection.  The main bacteria involved at that time were the contagious pathogens that spread from cow-to-cow during the milking process.  As a result, dry cow therapy was intended to target contagious infections such as Staphylococci and Strep.agalactiae."

In Andrew Biggs' practice, where milk samples are regularly analysed in the lab, environmental pathogens such as Strep. uberis and E.coli, as well as the classic contagious pathogen Staph aureus are now the principle organisms involved in many mastitis problems.  "Strep. uberis is particularly difficult to treat.  Many standard antibiotic treatments used during lactation are simply not effective and infections commonly seem to persist in affected udders."

The shift in emphasis of the bacteria causing mastitis was the principle consideration behind the development of the first new antimicrobial dry cow product for over 20 years -  a new formulation of cefquinome, a fourth generation cephalosporin.  Combined with a unique colloidal-silica thickening system, the low molecular weight active ingredient penetrates much more deeply into the udder tissue.

With a milk-withholding period of 49 days, which is due to the evenly-paced delivery of antibiotic, the product helps protect animals from infection with S. uberis, S. dysgalactiae, S. agalactiae and Staphylococci.  In addition, there are also in-vitro studies showing cefquinome activity against E.coli.

Intervet UK can offer veterinary students an excellent text book covering all aspects of the management of mastitis, written by Roger Blowey and Peter Edmondson, for only £5 per copy. Please contact our Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685 to find out more and place your order.