MASTITIS CONTROL, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT IN SHEEP

1. MASTITIS CONTROL, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT IN SHEEP Leo Timms Iowa State University Dairy Science Extension

2. SHEEP MASTITIS • Basic mastitis facts • Mastitis detection • Mastitis control • Prevention • Treatment

3. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ • 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

4. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ • Milk production decreases • - 12% when 1 udder half infected • - 58% when both udder halves infected* • * 16.7 lbs. less weaning weight

5. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ • 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

6. 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

7. 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!!!

8. KNOW YOUR ENEMY (germ warfare)

9. Pasturella hemolytica • “Blue bag” • Common respiratory tract inhabitant • Range flocks • Minimal under intensive management operations? • Ubiquitous! Opportunistic! Stressors! • *** Lambing time is critical!!

10. Staphylococcus aureus • “Gangrenous mastitis: • Chronic • Contagious? • ** Associated with wounds • Invasive • Scarring • ** milking time spreader

11. 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!

12. Coagulase negative Staph. • Skin inhabitants • Subclinical mastitis • Minor inflammation • Milk loss??? • Primary organism isolated in sheep (>95%) • Something has to get in!!

13. 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

14. 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)

15. LAMBING WEANING ?

17. HOW MUCH MASTITIS IS IN MY FLOCK?

18. 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

19. ISU TRIALS McNay 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

20. MASTITIS DIAGNOSTICS “How do I look for (find mastitis)?” • Clinical : • -milk - udder - systemic • Udder Palpation • Subclinical • * Cultures: Know your organisms • * SCC: CMT / Electronic

21. UDDER PALPATION

24. California mastitis test (CMT)

25. 3 grape jelly 2 0 no gel 1

27. WHAT IS A PROBLEM HIGH SCC? • Early / mid lactation: > 300-500,000 • Late lactation: * >400 - 1 million • * compare between halves

28. MONITORING IS A MUST!!!!

29. OBJECTIVES • Minimize number of infected halves • at lambing / other times!!! 1. Prevent new infections 2. Eliminate existing infections * $uccess = maximum quantity of low SCC milk

30. EFFECTIVE UDDER HEALTH MANAGEMENT Understanding mammary infection dynamics • Incidence of infections during this period • Organisms involved • Risk factors affecting susceptibility

32. Minimize exposure / maximize immunity Adequate space: 12-16 sq. ft. - ewes/lambs -open front shed 25-40 sq. ft. - lots CLEAN DRY COMFORTABLE

35. SOREMOUTH Aggressive nursing

36. 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

37. MAXIMIZING IMMUNITY NUTRITION: 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

38. 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!!

39. Eliminating Existing Infections • Spontaneous cure: 50-60% • CULLING • Treatment / therapy - lactation therapy - dry treatment (at weaning) - pre lambing / lambing therapies

40. 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

41. 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?

42. 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!

43. TREATMENT AT LAMBING???