A proactive approach to udder excellence
FAST FACTS
Mastitis can be caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, which is very difficult to eliminate from a herd.
Subclinical mastitis is responsible for more than 80% of mastitis losses, says Prof Inge- Marié Petzer.
Good management is vital in the prevention and control of mastitis.
Staphylococcus aureus (staph) is one of the most difficult mastitis-causing bacteria to eliminate from a dairy herd. Not only is it one of the most damaging and costly diseases of dairy cows, but it’s also very contagious. For every clinical case of mastitis that’s visible to the naked eye, there can be 20 more cases of subclinical mastitis that can only be identified in a laboratory.
“Subclinical mastitis is responsible for more than 80% of mastitis losses. This is why most farmers vastly underestimate economic losses due to mastitis,” says Onderstepoort udder health expert Prof Inge-Marié Petzer.
A cow with intramammary infection with staph can infect up to seven other cows that are milked with the same unit if the unit is not
