FAQ ON MASTITIS IN DAIRY ANIMALS
Q.1 :What is mastitis?
A :Mastitis is inflammation of udder/ mammary gland characterized by change in milk.
Q.2 :What should I do after onset of Mastitis?
A :If it is possible, milk sample for culture sensitivity test (CST) (to know the sensitive antibiotics) should be submitted before starting treatment. Broad spectrum antibiotic and supportive treatment with consultation of veterinarian should be given to the animal. If antibiotics are already being given to the animal, the milk sample should be submitted 4 days after end of therapy.
Q.3 :
How should I take the milk sample for testing to the laboratory?
A :
You should collect the milk sample in sterilized test tubes or in sterilized vials. The test tube should be labeled appropriately. At least 5 ml of milk sample should be submitted to the laboratory as early as possible. If delay is expected, samples should be kept in ice-container. Udder should be cleaned and soaked with neat piece of cloth. Teat orifice should aseptically be cleaned. Before taking sample in test tube, first few strippings (1-2 strippings) should be discarded.
Q.4 :
What should I do to avoid infection during dry period?
A :
As there is no specific dry cow therapy available in India, one should take care of the managemental aspects. If prevalence of infection in the herd is high, all the animals at drying- off should be injected with Intra-mammary infusions.
Q.5 :
What should I do to avoid recurrence of mastitis?
A :
Individual animal should be treated and her udder immunity enhanced by using mineral mixture of standard quality, cleaning of udder before milking, milking of infected teat at the end and teat dipping after milking.. Milk samples should be tested regularly after 15 days using SLS paddle test. The positive animal’s milk samples should be tested for CST in the laboratory. Treatment of sub-clinical case is more desirable.
Q.6 :
Why does the swelling of udder occur just after calving while there was no sign during late pregnancy?
A :
There are chances of subclinical mastitis at drying-off and during dry period. This infection gets flared-up after parturition due to certain stress factors.
Q.7 :
What is the treatment of udder/teat fibrosis?
A :
Udder/ teat fibrosis occurs as a result of chronic infection. Treatment of udder and teat fibrosis in that particular lactation can result into resolution to some extent, but chances of recovery may be expected in the next lactation when new lacteal tissue formation will ensue.
Q.8 :
There is problem of warts over the teat of animals. How to treat it?
A :
Please, Consult nearest available qualified veterinarian for treatment.
Q.9 :
I have a buffalo which has developed sores at the base of teat since one month. Milk yield is normal. Advise me appropriate treatment.
A :
This problem is usually chronic running for many months. The best treatment for this is to apply antiseptic solutions like Betadine/Povidine regularly. If no recovery occurs apply a powder mixed in equal parts containing boric acid, kaolin and zinc oxide once daily. The healing in such cases is slow and takes 3-4 weeks. Do not use antibiotics, which will increases the cost of treatment only.
Q.10 :
What are the mastitis control measures?
A :
The important features of a successful mastitis control programme are:
Regular testing of animals for subclinical mastitis
Adopt hygiene measures
Post-milking teat dipping be adopted
Follow Dry cow therapy
Increase udder resistance to mastitis
Q.11 :
What is Post-milking teat dipping?
A :
The teats of all the lactating cows and dry cows (during first 10-14 days of dry period) are dipped regularly after every milking in a germicidal solution. The recommended teat dips are
Iodine (0.5%) solution 6 parts + Glycerine 1 part
Chlorhexidine (0.5%) solution 1 Litre + Glycerine 60 ml
The iodine teat dip is the best as it treats various types of teat lesions and injuries also.
MINERAL DEFICIENCY
Q.1 :
What is Hematuria?.
A :
It is the presence of blood in urine and can be due to many reasons like phosphorus deficiency, Babesia infection, etc.
Q.2 :
What is leucoderma ?
A :
It is associated with copper deficiency.
Q.3 :
What are the clinical signs of copper deficiency?
A :
The clinical signs are as follows:
Unthriftiness
Change in hair colour or leucoderma
Anaemia
Chronic diarrhoea
Chronic lameness
Neonatal ataxia
Q.4 :
How we can diagnose and treat the copper deficiency?
A :
We can diagnose the copper deficiency by low serum and hepatic copper concentration and response to treatment. Copper deficiency can be treated by oral administration of copper sulphate or inj. copper glycnate . Consult any nearest available veterinarian for this purpose.
Q.5 :
My cow calved last night and is now unable to get up.
A :
Many times high yielder cows suffer from milk fever after parturition which is due to calcium deficiency. Following calcium treatment, there is quick recovery.
Q.6 :
What is the management of hyperthermia?
A :
Give bath to the animals (4-5 times/day) during summer.
Feed during early hours of the day
Contact a qualified veterinarian for the treatment, if infections are suspected
Hyperthermia in farm animals
Q.1 :
What are the common causes of high body temperature (hyperthermia) in cattle during summer season?
A :
Infectious diseases like haemorrhagic septicaemia, foot and mouth disease and black quarter etc.
Haemoprotozoan diseases like Anaplasmosis, Theileriosis and Babesiosis besides high environmental temperature are common causes of high rise in body temperature during summer season.
Q.2 :
What are the clinical signs of hyperthermia?
A :
High fever (1050-1070F)
Panting
Marked decrease in appetite
Loss of milk yield
Temperature is normal in early hours of the day but as the day temperature rises body temperature of animal also increases.
FLOUROSIS IN DAIRY ANIMALS
Q.1 :
Does excess fluoride is also harmful for animals?
A :
Yes. Excess fluoride intake can produce harmful effects in animals also, though clinical signs may be absent in mild cases. Flourosis is common in animals reared in district Mansa, Bathinda, Ferozpur and Sangrur.
Q.2 :
What are different clinical signs of fluorosis?
A :
Clinical signs of fluorosis include changes in teeth and bones. Teeth become brown-blackish and loose. Bones become weak and prone to fracture. The animal shows weakness, lameness, reduced appetite and weight loss.
Q.3 :
What are different sources of excess fluoride for animals?
A :
Water containing excessive fluoride concentration is the major source. Poor quality mineral mixture or dust coming out from brick kilns or other industry are other sources.
Q.4 :
Is fluorosis fully curable?
A :
No. Changes in bone and teeth are irreversible and can not be fully cured. However, animals sufferings can be reduced after treatment.
Q.5 :
How fluorosis can be prevented or treated?
A :
Remove sources of excess fluoride. Do not give deep bore well water; rather give water from ponds (surface water). Give calcium carbonate or good quality mineral mixture after consulting the veterinarian.
IMPACTION IN DAIRY ANIMALS
Q.1 :
Why impaction is very much prevalent in dairy animals?
A :
It is due to lack of green fodder in diet or giving excess Jowar/maize straw(Kutti). Ingestion of sharp metallic foreign bodies in cattle and buffalo may also be responsible.
Q.2 :
What should be done to avoid impaction in cattle and buffaloes?
A :
Feed green fodder mixed in Kutti throughout the year. Avoid access of animals to nails, needles, wires and sharp farm equipment parts etc.
Q.3 :
What is first aid before reaching hospital?
A :
Tie and confine the animal to one place. Make available ample of drinking water throughout the day and seek the advice of veterinarian as soon as possible.
LAMENESS IN DAIRY ANIMALS
Q.1 :
Whether there is any affect on reproduction/fertility?
A :
Yes, due to pain animal does not express signs of heat. It is related with reproduction failure.
Q.2 :
How farmers can control/ check lameness?
A :
Always undertake hoof trimming every six months.
Always feed mineral mixture regularly.
Take the help of a qualified veterinary doctor if problem is severe/clinical.
Contact your nearest Veterinary Doctor if the problem is consistent or persistant.
DEWORMING AND VACCINATION
Q.1 :
What are the common diseases prevalent in Punjab against which we should go for vaccination?
A :
Animals should be vaccinated for Foot and Mouth disease (FMD), Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (H S), Black Quarter(BQ) and brucellosis. Consult the veterinarian for this purpose regularly.
Q.2 :
Precautions to be taken while vaccinating the animals?
A :
Vaccines should be procured from reliable source. Cold chain should be maintained from purchase of vaccine till its administration. Don’t put vaccine in direct heat and sunlight.
Q.3 :
At what age we should start deworming in our animals.
A :
At the age of < 1 month we should start deworming.
Reference-on request
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