9 June 2023 | Product and Promotions Guide
What we don't know What we don't know
Consider length of infection.
Mastitis caused by Staphylococcus
aureus generally has a low
cure rate. Depending upon the
prevalence of S. aureus in the herd
(identified through regular culture-
based monitoring), producers
should strongly consider culling
infected cows. When attempting
treatment, success depends
somewhat upon how long the
infection has been in the mammary
gland.
If a cow was infected with S.
aureus five minutes ago, it is
reasonable to assume antimicrobial
therapy is more likely to achieve a
cure than if she was infected five
months ago. While it's impossible
to know how long a quarter has
been infected, it is possible to guess
based upon age of the cow, stage
of lactation, somatic cell count
history and other factors.
After your next herd check,
discuss each of the preceding
knowns and unknowns with your
veterinarian and how they apply
to your dairy. Thoughtfully and
deliberately consider how to apply
what is known about mastitis with
reasonable certainty (the known
knowns), as well as how to turn
your unknowns into knowns.
Ruegg, P. What is Success? A Narrative Review of
Research Evaluating Outcomes Used for Treatment
of Clinical Mastitis. Front. Vet. Sci. 2021; Vol. 8, Article
639641.
