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

Zecconi, A.; Gusmara, C.; Giusto, Tiziana Di; Cipolla, Micaela; Marconi, P.; Zanini, Lucio

doi:10.1080/1828051x.2020.1842812

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The importance of monitoring udder health in cows after calving is well known [ 4 ], and it became even more important when SDCT is applied [ 26 ]. This latter approach may decrease significantly antimicrobial treatments, thus reducing the risk for AMR and the production costs [ 25 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This approach showed to be efficient, cost effective, and to be able to reduce the use of antimicrobials [ 25 ]. However, to avoid that new intramammary infections mainly, but not exclusively, in untreated cows will develop in clinical mastitis and/or in the spread of contagious pathogens, the control of udder health post-calving is recommended in order to improve animal health at the herd level [ 26 ]. The microbiological analysis of all the cows post-calving will reduce the economic benefit of SDCT, and methods to identify cow at risk in this phase are needed to decrease the number of cows sampled.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Total and Differential Cell Counts as a Tool to Identify Intramammary Infections in Cows after Calving

Zecconi

Meroni

Sora

et al. 2021

Animals

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Milk differential somatic cells count (DSCC), made possible under field conditions by the recent availability of a high-throughput milk analyzer may represent an improvement in mastitis diagnosis. While an increasing number of studies reports data on DSCC on individual cow samples, very few concerns DSCC from quarter milk samples. This paper reports for the first time the results of a retrospective study aiming to assess the performance of total (SCC), DSCC, and a novel calculated marker (PLCC) measured on quarter milk samples as a method to identify cows at risk for intramammary infection (IMI) in the first 30 days after calving. Overall, 14,586 valid quarter milk samples (3658 cows) taken in the first 30 days of lactation were considered. Quarters with major pathogens (MP) IMI, as expected, showed significantly higher means for SCC, DSCC, and PLCC. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the diagnosis based on different cut-offs calculated by ROC analysis are relatively close among DSCC, PLCC, and SCC (up to cut-off of 200,000 cells/mL). However, decision-tree analysis which includes the costs of analysis, but also the costs of the actions taken after test results showed as PLCC has the lowest cost among the three markers, and PLCC and SCC are cost effective when MP prevalence is higher than 6–10%. This diagnostic approach is of high interest particularly when selective dry cow therapy is applied to improve animal health at the herd level.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Total and Differential Cell Counts as a Tool to Identify Intramammary Infections in Cows after Calving

Zecconi

Meroni

Sora

et al. 2021

Animals

Self Cite

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“…Farms with higher percentages of cows with increased milk somatic cell count have a higher risk of udder infections during the dry period due to increased udder infections at dry off and a likely higher number of contagious pathogens [ 71 ]. Conceivably, the farmers of the LW group might have tried to eliminate existing intramammary infections and prevent further udder infections applying routine antibiotic dry cow therapy, while farmers of the HW group were more often able to reduce antibiotic administration and use internal teat sealants as alternative protective measure [ 72 , 73 ]. In contrast, Doherr et al [ 11 ] reported lower risk of subclinical mastitis with routine use of antibiotic dry cow therapy (OR = 0.5), compared to infrequent antibiotic treatments (OR = 1.0).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Housing and Management Factors on Selected Indicators of the Welfare Quality® Protocol in Loose-Housed Dairy Cows

Gieseke

Lambertz

Gauly

2022

Veterinary Sciences

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The objective of this study was to examine the effects of housing and management factors on animal welfare indicators in dairy cows using a benchmarking approach. In total, 63 conventional dairy cattle farms with zero-grazing in Northern Germany were assessed using selected animal welfare indicators (body condition score, integument alterations, lameness, milk somatic cell count, and social behaviour) of the Welfare Quality® protocol. Additionally, housing characteristics such as designs of barns, cubicles, and floors were documented during farm visits and farmers were interviewed concerning their common management routines. Farms were categorized into a high welfare or low welfare group by calculating upper and lower tertiles for each of the animal welfare indicators separately. Both groups were compared regarding housing conditions and management practices using univariable and multivariable logistic regressions. Several associations between housing and management factors and animal welfare indicators were demonstrated in univariable analysis (p < 0.20). Significant effects within multivariable logistic regression analysis were determined for lameness (routine use of foot-baths), milk somatic cell count (milking frequency) and social behaviour (cow-to-stall ratio) (p < 0.05). Comparing farms with higher and lower animal welfare status can provide useful information about effective options to improve animal welfare.

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“…Further, Scherpenzeel et al (2014) employed a split-udder design in which exclusion of TSL acted as a risk factor for development of IMI in other quarters (Barkema et al, 1997;Robert et al, 2006b;Paixão et al, 2017). Zecconi et al (2020) reported a slight increase in new IMI after calving with SDCT; however, one factor may be that only 3 of 5 included herds used TSL, although results from all herds were combined, potentially overestimating negative effects of SDCT when TSL are applied. Vasquez et al (2018) reported bacteriologic cure remained slightly higher for cows entering the dry period with an IMI and receiving IMM antimicrobials, whereas Huxley et al (2002) reported no significant differences between SDCT and BDCT for CM incidence, CM severity, or bacteriological cure of existing IMI.…”

Section: Udder Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invited review: Selective use of antimicrobials in dairy cattle at drying-off

McCubbin

Jong

Lam

et al. 2022

Journal of Dairy Science

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Administering intramammary antimicrobials to all mammary quarters of dairy cows at drying-off [i.e., blanket dry cow therapy (BDCT)] has been a mainstay of mastitis prevention and control. However, as udder health has considerably improved over recent decades with reductions in intramammary infection prevalence at drying-off and the introduction of teat sealants, BDCT may no longer be necessary on all dairy farms, thereby supporting antimicrobial stewardship efforts. This narrative review summarizes available literature regarding current dry cow therapy practices and associated impacts of selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) on udder health, milk production, economics, antimicrobial use, and antimicrobial resistance. Various methods to identify infections at drying-off that could benefit from antimicrobial treatment are described for selecting cows or mammary quarters for treatment, including utilizing somatic cell count thresholds, pathogen identification, previous clinical mastitis history, or a combination of criteria. Selection methods may be enacted at the herd, cow, or quarter levels. Producers' and veterinarians' motivations for antimicrobial use are discussed. Based on review findings, SDCT can be adopted without negative consequences for udder health and milk production, and concurrent teat sealant use is recommended, especially in udder quarters receiving no intramammary antimicrobials. Furthermore, herd selection should be considered for SDCT implementation in addition to cow or quarter selection, as BDCT may still be temporarily necessary in some herds for optimal mastitis control. Costs and benefits of SDCT vary among herds, whereas impacts on antimicrobial resistance remain unclear. In summary, SDCT is a viable management option for maintaining udder health and milk production while improving antimicrobial stewardship in the dairy industry.

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

Cited by 8 publications

References 29 publications

Total and Differential Cell Counts as a Tool to Identify Intramammary Infections in Cows after Calving

Total and Differential Cell Counts as a Tool to Identify Intramammary Infections in Cows after Calving

Effects of Housing and Management Factors on Selected Indicators of the Welfare Quality® Protocol in Loose-Housed Dairy Cows

Invited review: Selective use of antimicrobials in dairy cattle at drying-off

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