Epidemiological evaluation of subclinical mastitis of dairy cows in Greece

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗSubclinical mastitis, diagnosed by elevated somatic cell count (SCC) in milk, is an important monitoring parameter of dairy cows’ udder health, related to their productivity and welfare. The present retrospective study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of subclinical mastitis (SCM) among the 37 herds of the Holstein Association of Greece participating in the milk quality recording system “ΙΩ”, from the start of 2015 until the end of 2018. The herds’ inclusion criterion was the consistency of monthly SCC recording throughout at least one full year between 2015 and 2018, with a maximum interval of 61 days between two consecutive monthly SCC recordings. Twenty-six herds (8630 cows) in 2015, thirty herds (10763 cows) in 2016, thirty herds (10945 cows) in 2017 and twenty-six herds (9597 cows) in 2018 were included. The prevalence of SCM and chronic SCM, the incidence rate of new cases of SCM, as well as the average somatic cell score and bulk tank milk SCC were determined for each of the four years. The results indicate a progressive deterioration of udder health from the onset of the cow’s productive life until culling. A year-over-year increase in the number of cows with subclinical mastitis led to an overall SCM prevalence of 34.5%, chronic SCM prevalence of 26.9% and a bulk tank milk SCC of 463000 cells/mL, in 2018. The average somatic cell score, a base 2logarithm of individual cow’s SCC, was found persistently above the subclinical mastitis indicative cut-off in all four years, with a peak in 2018. At herd level, the incidence rate of new SCM cases was 12 new cases / 100 cows / month; the highest incidence rate was observed in the early lactation stage group (1-60 days-in-milk), in all four years, reaching a peak of 31 new cases / 100 cows / month, in 2018. In 2018, prevalence of heifers’ SCM and chronic SCM was23.4% and 16.9%, respectively. Despite the adequate average 305-days milk yield (9608 kg in 2018), the results were indicative of poor udder health status, pointed out by reduced duration of cows’ productive life (less than 3 lactations)and lower milk quality (elevated SCC). The severity and wide spreading of subclinical mastitis in Greek dairy herds highlights the necessity of a national mastitis control program, aiming to improve the productive efficacy, management decisions accuracy and quality of produced milk

Uticaj dodatka Saccharomyces cerevisiae u ishrani na zdravlje i proizvodnju krava tokom perioda tranzicije i početka laktacije

Data concerning the effect of probiotics supplementation on many parameters concurrently at the same cows are lacking. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae feeding on rumen, blood and milk parameters together in high- producing dairy cattle during the transition and early lactation period. Sixteen clinically healthy Holstein cows were divided into 2 groups: a control group of 6 cows and a probiotics-fed group of 10 cows. Rumen fluid and blood samples were collected 21 days before the expected calving as well as 7, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days- in-milk (DIM). Milk yield for each animal was recorded every 2 weeks. Individual milk samples were collected 15, 30, 45 and 60 DIM. Ruminal pH and rumen ammonia nitrogen were significantly lower, whereas total volatile fatty acids were significantly higher in yeast-fed animals compared with controls throughout the study. Serum concentrations of total proteins and globulins were higher, while albumins were lower in the yeast-treated group. Serum glucose levels were significantly higher in yeast-supplemented animals. Serum triglycerides, high density lipoproteins, and low density lipoproteins concentrations were lower, with cholesterol being significantly lower in the treated group. Milk production and milk fat percentage were higher, whereas milk protein percentage and somatic cell count were decreased in yeast-supplemented cows throughout the study. These results suggest that supplementation of S. cerevisiae to dairy cows rations during transition and early lactation period improve their health and milk production parameters.Podaci koji bi se odnosili na uticaj suplementacije probiotika na više parametara istovremeno na istim grlima nedostaju u literaturi. Stoga je cilj ovog eksperimenta bio da se ispita uticaj Saccharomices cerevisiae u obroku/hrani na parametre rumena, krvi i mleka zajedno u visoko-proizvodnim mlečnim govedima tokom tranzicije i početkom laktacije. Šesnaest klinički zdravih holštajn krava je podeljeno u 2 grupe: kontrolna grupa od 6 krava i grupa od 10 krava hranjenih probiotikom u obroku. Buražna tečnost i uzorci krvi su sakupljeni 21 dan pre očekivanog teljenja, kao i 7, 15, 30, 45 i 60 dana tokom laktacije (days in milk - DIM). Prinos mleka za svaku životinju zabeležen je svake 2 nedelje. Pojedinačni uzorci mleka su prikupljeni 15, 30, 45 i 60 DIM. pH buraga i buražni amonijačni azot su bili značajno niži, dok su ukupne isparljive masne kiseline bile značajno veće kod životinja hranjenih kvascem u poređenju sa kontrolama kroz celu studiju. Serumske koncentracije ukupnih proteina i globulina bile su više, dok su koncentracije albumina bile niže u grupi sa kvascem. Serumski nivoi glukoze bili su značajno viši kod životinja sa dodatkom kvasca. Trigliceridi u serumu, koncentracije lipoproteina visoke i niske gustine bile su niže, sa holesterolom koji je bio znatno niži u tretiranoj grupi. Proizvodnja mleka i procent mlečne masti bili su viši, dok je sadržaj proteina mleka i somatskih ćelija bio niži u krava hranjenih sa dodatkom kvasca kroz celu studiju. Ovi rezultati ukazuju na to da dodatak S. cerevisiae u obrocima muznih krava tokom tranzicije i rane laktacije poboljšava njihovo zdravlje i parametre proizvodnje mleka