Effects of automatic milking system on teat tissues, intramammary infections and somatic cell counts

Abstract

To assess the impact of automatic milking systems (AMS) on the different aspects of milk production a research project<br />involving both commercial and experimental dairy farms with different AMS and different management was started. This<br />paper reports the results of a follow-up study on primiparous cows focused on assessing some markers to be used to<br />monitor udder and teat health. Heifers were included after calving and sampled for at least 12 months. Quarter milk samples<br />and teat measurements were taken to assess: intramammary infection (IMI) frequencies, somatic cell counts (SCC),<br />teat thickness changes, teat skin and apex conditions. The study included 28 cows in herd A and 27 in herd B for a total<br />number of 2344 samples. Overall, teat apex and skin conditions were maintained along the lactation. Teat skin conditions<br />tended to decrease because of the accumulated number of milkings while lactation proceeded, but at a largely<br />acceptable level in both herds. Teat apex conditions showed a decrease. Teat thickness changes displayed different patterns<br />in the two herds, probably because of the different type of AMS, but in both cases a trend to decrease in thickness<br />could be observed. The application of AMS in herd B, free from contagious pathogens, did not influence the frequency of<br />IMI and the SCC. In herd A, characterized by the presence of Staphylococcus aureus IMI, the frequency of IMI showed<br />a progressive increase, very likely as a consequence of the spread of infections during milking. Teat skin had no association<br />with the frequency of IMI. Teat thickness changes outside values considered as physiological proved to be associated<br />with decreased conditions in the teat apex score in herd A, but not in herd B. However, a decrease in teat apex score<br />proved to be associated with an increase in IMI frequency in both herds. The results of this field trial confirm that AMS<br />have no negative impact on IMI incidence, SCC and teat tissue conditions when the initial cow health status and overall<br />herd management are good. In the presence of contagious pathogens, and when cows have more than 300 days in milk<br />(DIM) the frequency of negative outcomes significantly increases and the proper control measures should be taken

Observational study on application of a selective dry-cow therapy protocol based on individual somatic cell count thresholds

“…These data were not unexpected, and confirms that SDCT increases the risks for IMI after calving Scherpenzeel, et al 2014). We should add that that 95% of uncured cases are due to CNS (data not shown), the number of species involved, their high prevalence in dairy herds (Zecconi and Piccinini 2002;Dufour et al 2012;Vanderhaeghen et al 2014) and their peculiar reservoir on teat skin (Zecconi et al 2003a;Zecconi and Hamann 2006) highly increases the chances to have IMI due to these bacteria in postcalving cows leading to an overestimation of uncured infections. Moreover, new IMI in negative quarters, in infected quarters and in uncured quarters had a frequency in the range 29-35%.…”

Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on health and performance of dairy cows during transition and early lactation period

“…Individual milk samples of each animal were collected for analysis at 15, 30, 45 and 60 DIM. Fat percentage, protein percentage and somatic cell count (SCC) were measured at Animal Reproduction Research Institute using MilkoScan analyser (FOSS ANA MilkoScan FT 120, GERBER INSTRUMENTS, Effretikon, Switzerland), according to the method proposed by Zecconi et al (2002).…”

Management factors and cow traits influencing milk somatic cell counts and teat hyperkeratosis during different seasons

“…A severe degree of hyperkeratosis and roughness of the teat end is associated with clinical mastitis ) and increased risk of new intramammary infections (Zecconi et al, 2003). Teat skin lesions can be colonized by a variety of bacteria, serving as a reservoir of infection (Paduch et al, 2012).…”