MASTITIS CONTROL, PREVENTION, AND

TREATMENT IN SHEEP

Leo Timms

Iowa State University

Dairy Science Extension

SHEEP MASTITIS

• Basic mastitis facts

• Mastitis detection

• Mastitis control

• Prevention

• Treatment

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$• Occurs in every flock• $20-25 million annually (US)• Decreased lamb performance• Lamb/ewe mortality and morbidity• Ewe replacement costs• Labor costs• Feed costs (orphans)• Veterinary costs

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

• Milk production decreases

- 12% when 1 udder half infected - 58% when both udder halves infected*

* 16.7 lbs. less weaning weight

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

•Average daily gain - ISU Trials***

- 1988 and 1990: slightly lower ADG - 1989: 11% decrease ADG

infected: at lambing- 19%; wean- 7%; both- 24%

*** Significant difference in creep feed intake

MASTITIS

• Inflammation of the mammary gland where inflammation is reaction to tissue injury

• Redness• Swelling

• Heat• Pain

• Loss of function

• 99% of inflammation results from infection

TYPES OF MASTITIS• Clinical: visual abnormalities(milk/udder/lamb) - fever - loss of appetite - depression - death

• Chronic: - long duration - variable signs - contagious? - fibrosis (nodules): udder palpation

•Subclinical: * No visible signs *Special tests * Loss of function

• Mastitis types are correlated to organisms!!!

KNOWYOUR

ENEMY(germ warfare)

Pasturella hemolytica

• “Blue bag”

• Common respiratory tract inhabitant

• Range flocks

• Minimal under intensive management operations?

• Ubiquitous! Opportunistic! Stressors!

• *** Lambing time is critical!!

Staphylococcus aureus

• “Gangrenous mastitis:

• Chronic

• Contagious?

• ** Associated with wounds

• Invasive

• Scarring

• ** milking time spreader

Strep. species / E. coli (coliforms)

• Environmentals

• Opportunists ( streps get in every day)

• High exposure / high stress

• Many around lambing

• Streps: Mild but clinical

• E. coli: Severe clinical due to toxemia

• Coliforms need H2O to grow / get in!

Coagulase negative Staph.

• Skin inhabitants

• Subclinical mastitis

• Minor inflammation

• Milk loss???

• Primary organism isolated in sheep (>95%)

• Something has to get in!!

Contagious ecthyma (sore mouth)

• Virus: occurs in every flock, secondary mastitis infections due to teat trauma

• Remains viable for long periods

• Nursing lambs - mouth lesions

• Transfer to ewes teats

** Provide protection for ewe/other animals

Contagious ecthyma (sore mouth)

• VACCINATION

• Vaccinate ewes pre-breeding• Vaccinate replacement lambs

and expose to ewes (ewe challenge)• Vaccinate rams• *BE CAREFUL WHEN VACCINATING

(transmissible to humans)

WEANING LAMBING

?

Reasons for dry period mastitis:Reasons for dry period mastitis:

•• Increased mammary pressureIncreased mammary pressuredistends the teat, making itdistends the teat, making iteasier for bacterial penetration.easier for bacterial penetration.

•• Milk is no longer being flushedMilk is no longer being flushedfrom the gland.from the gland.

•• ImmunologicalImmunological factors are factors aresuppressed locally/systemically.suppressed locally/systemically.

•• No dry treatment protectionNo dry treatment protectionduring the pre-calving period.during the pre-calving period.

HOW MUCHMASTITISIS IN MY FLOCK?

ISU TRIALS• 3 flocks, 4 lambing periods

29% ewes, 16 % halves infected at lambing

21 % ewes, 11% halves infected at weaning

* * 40% of lambing infections persist

to weaning

ISU TRIALSMcNay research - 3 years

13-25% ewes,

9-17 % halves infected lambing

15-22 % ewes,

8-14 % halves infected weaning

** 32% of lambing infections

persist to weaning

MASTITIS DIAGNOSTICS“How do I look for (find mastitis)?”

• Clinical : -milk - udder - systemic

• Udder Palpation

• Subclinical * Cultures: Know your organisms

* SCC: CMT / Electronic

UDDER PALPATION

California mastitis test(CMT)

1

2

0no gel

3grapejelly

INTERPRETATIONS?

CMT > 1 false positivespost lambing?

Comparative half

differences

WHAT IS A PROBLEMHIGH SCC?

• Early / mid lactation: > 300-500,000

• Late lactation: * >400 - 1 million * compare between halves

MONITORING

IS A

MUST!!!!

OBJECTIVES

• Minimize number of infected halves at lambing / other times!!!

1. Prevent new infections2. Eliminate existing infections

* $uccess = maximum quantity of low SCC milk

EFFECTIVE UDDER HEALTH MANAGEMENT

Understanding mammary infection dynamics

• Incidence of infections during this period

• Organisms involved

• Risk factors affecting susceptibility

1.Minimize bacteria!!no bacteria- no problem

2. Maximize teat end integrity

3. Maximize immunity

Minimize exposure / maximize immunity

CLEAN DRY COMFORTABLE

Adequate space:12-16 sq. ft. - ewes/lambs -open front shed25-40 sq. ft. - lots

Minimize bacterial load: Teat dipping?

1. Daily dipping w/ commercial products: limited benefits

2. Commercial persistent barriers : beneficial? ** teats must be protected last 7-10 days of dry period**

Maximize teat end health

Weather

Flies

Other stressors

SOREMOUTH

Aggressivenursing

SUSCEPTIBILITY: WEANING • Weaning: high susceptibility

• *** Decrease production!!!!!!• Eliminate grain 7 days pre-weaning• Feed poor quality forages• Change environments• Limit water 12-24hrs pre-wean???• Reduce by FEED, not intermittent milking

- aggressive lambs - labor - abnormal volume

• Teat dip w/ persistent barrier

MAXIMIZING IMMUNITYNUTRITION: THE KEY PLAYER

• Vit E / Se • Copper • Zinc

• Vit A/ carotene • Vit D • Chromium

• CHO • PROTEIN • FIBER

*** Maximize dry matter intake ***late gestation / lambing/ post lambing

CREEP FEEDING• CRUCIAL!!! ADG coming more from

feed and less reliant on milk!

• This still has a CO$T associated!!

• Creep feeding IS NO SUBSTITUTE for mastitis management!!

Eliminating Existing Infections

• Spontaneous cure: 50-60%

• CULLING

• Treatment / therapy

- lactation therapy

- dry treatment (at weaning)

- pre lambing / lambing therapies

Lactation Therapy

• Early diagnosis and detection!!!

• TLC

• Keep ewes on good feed and water

• Use supportive therapy

• Keep ewe nursing or milked out

• Work with your veterinarian on appropriate treatments and protocols

Dry Treatment (at weaning)

• Cure existing infections • Prevent IMI post weaning

• Flocks with mastitis problems• Individual problem ewes

• Purebred ewes with high $ value

• Commercial dry cow tubes / injectables?

TREATMENT PRE-LAMBING

• Don’t open teat unless necessary

• Work with your veterinarian:

– Organisms involved;

Appropriate therapies

• Prophylactic therapy:

Poor response in controlled & field trials

Residue risks must be addressed!

TREATMENT

AT

LAMBING???

Minimize growth

Minimize exposure

Maximize immunity

$