The effect of dry cow therapy using systemic tylosin in combination with common intramammary medications on mastitis rate, cull rate, somatic cell count, and milk production in dairy cows affected with subclinical mastitis.

Aims: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of systemic tylosin on mastitis rates, cull rates because of mastitis, and quality and quantity of milk production in dairy cows affected with subclinical mastitis.

Materials and Methods: A total of 130 California mastitis test (CMT)-positive cows were randomly selected and divided into four different treatment groups. All treatments were performed on the day of drying off. Cows in Group 1 (n=34) received 12 g of tylosin intramuscularly (IM) and intramammary (IMM) 400 mg novobiocin sodium and 200,000IU penicillin G procaine. Group 2 (n=33) received 12 g tylosin IM and IMM 280 mg benethamine penicillin, 100 mg penethamate hydriodide, and 100 mg framycetin sulfate. Group 3 (n=33) received IMM alone with 400 mg novobiocin sodium and 200,000 IU penicillin G procaine. Group 4 (n=30) received IMM alone with 280 mg benethamine penicillin, 100 mg penethamate hydriodide, and 100 mg framycetin sulfate. The incidence and severity of clinical mastitis (CM), incidence of chronic mastitis, and cow cull rate because of mastitis were recorded during the first 100 days in milk (DIM). In addition, somatic cell count (SCC) and milk production parameters including the average days to peak milk yield, the average milk yield at peak, the average milk yield during the first 100 DIM, and the average 305-corrected milk yield were reported.

Results: The rate of CM was significantly (p≤0.05) less in Group 2 when compared between the current and previous lactations (30% vs. 64%). In Group 1 and 4, the rate of CM was decreased but not significant between the two lactations (59% vs. 79% and 63% vs. 77%, respectively) while in Group 3, the rate of CM was slightly increased (82% vs. 91%). When compared between the four groups in the current lactation, CM rate was significantly (p≤0.05) less in Group 2 compared to the other groups. A significant (p≤0.05) percentage of CM cases in Group 2 was classified as mild. In Groups 1 and 3, a significant (p≤0.05) percentage of CM cases was classified as moderate while severe clinical signs were recorded more significantly (p≤0.05) in Groups 3 and 4. The rate of chronic mastitis was significantly less in Group 1 and Group 2 in the current lactation compared to that in the previous lactation (6% vs. 12% and 0% vs. 6%, respectively). In Groups 3 and 4, the rate of chronic mastitis was not changed significantly when compared between the current and previous lactations. No cows were culled because of mastitis in Groups 1 and 3 while one cow was culled in each of Groups 2 and 4 during the first 100 DIM in the current lactation. The average milk yield during the first 100 DIM and the 305-corrected milk yield were significantly (p≤0.05) increased in Group 2 when compared between the previous and current lactations. Furthermore, cows in Group 2 produced significantly (p≤0.05) more milk during the first 100 DIM and significantly (p≤0.05) more 305-corrected milk yield compared to the other groups. In Group 2, the average SCC dropped significantly (p≤0.05) from 1,600,000 cells/ml at the start of the study to <200,000 cells/ml at 100 DIM.

Conclusions: In dairy herds with subclinical mastitis, dry cow therapy of CMT-positive cows using a combination of tylosin (12 g, IM) and IMM administration of benethamine penicillin, penethamate hydriodide, and framycetin sulfate (Ubrostar; Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany) may result in a significant reduction of the rate and severity of acute and chronic mastitis and cull rates due to mastitis within the first 100 DIM. Furthermore, treated cows may produce significantly more milk with less SCC during the first 100 DIM and therefore produce significantly more 305-corrected milk in the lactation following treatment.