Watch for Mastitis
in Early Pregnant Cows
Mark Vamer
Professor and Extension Dairy Scientist
Director, Graduate Program in Animal Sciences
Is occurrence of mastitis related to fertility problems?
That’s a question I’ve been asked, and I’ve always had to
tell the individual that I didn’t know for sure. There were
few published trials available on the topic, and none sug
gested what kind of problems might be caused.
A study was published in late 1999 by scientists at the
College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida
that considered this difficult question. They evaluated
records from more than 3,000 cows in a high producing herd
in Florida. Records were kept concerning which cows had
clinical mastitis. The milking personnel examined cows for
flakes/clots in the milk and moderate or worse swelling in
the udder for classification as clinical mastitis. Pregnancy
was determined in the usual rectal exam manner by quali
fied herd veterinarians between 42 and 49 days after insemi
nation.
Cows with clinical mastitis during the first 45 days of ges
tation were at 2.7 times greater risk for abortion during the
next 90 days than were cows that had no mastitis. No signif
icant association was found between subsequent abortion
and season of the year, use of prostaglandin-F-2-alpha to
synchronize estrus or lactation number. A small, though still
significant, relationship was observed between risk of abor
tion and insemination based solely on secondary signs of
estrus. Cows that conceived to a breeding based only on sec
ondary signs of estrus were at 1.7 times greater risk of abor
tion.
What are the practical implications? Producers typically
can’t control when cows get mastitis. Instead, dairy produc
ers should focus on reexamining any pregnant or insemi
nated cow for pregnancy at 90 days after clinical mastitis is
observed. Clever herd managers will develop a system to
record which animals have clinical mastitis, and then re
check their breeding records to identify cows that were 45
days pregnant or less, at the time of the mastitis.
Also, cows inseminated solely on secondary signs of estrus
should also be rechecked for pregnancy. In that manner,
cows at risk for those early abortions will not get lost in the
herd and increase costs for the producer.
I L.B. FENCING
305 Good Road, East Earl, Pa. 17519
717-445-4764
Fax 717-445-0637 Luke Burkholder
I
Specializing In All Types Of High Tensile Fence
Stream Bank Fencing - Supplies And Installation
All Types Of High Tensile Supplies Sold
High Tensile Wire
Certified Tensile Range
200,000 Psi
Class 111 Galv. 4,000 Ft. Rolls
In Line Strainers, Spring
Loaded
In Line Strainers w/o Spring
Strainer Handle (Zink Plated)
4”Tube Insulators (200 pk)
20” Wrap Around Insulators (10 pk)
C2L Double Crimp Sleeves (100 pk)
50 lb 1&4” Class 111 Galv. Barbed Staples
50 lb 2” Hot Dipped Galv. Staples
10-47-6-11 Woven Wire Fence (330 Ft.)
Pence Posts
C.C. A. Pressure Treated (30 )
Pressure Treated Board Fen'
4 to 5”x6’6” 5 to 6”x7’
4 to s”B’ 5 to 6”B’
5 to 6”x6’6” 6 to 7”x6’6'
Good Supply In Stock For All Sizes
We Ship U.P.S or Deliver Prices F. 0.8.
Heavy Duty
Post Drivers
• 3 Pt. Hook-up
• Skid Loader Mounts
• In Stock Ready For
Delivery