Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A study of subclinical mastitis in two herds, one managed organically, the other conventionally, and the effect of different management strategies

  • Published:
Organic Agriculture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mastitis in two herds managed as a comparison between organic and conventional dairy farming systems was monitored for 8 years utilising regular bacterial culture of milk samples, individual and bulk somatic cell counts, and observation by farm staff. The aim of the project was to develop strategies for the control of mastitis in organic cows without the use of antibiotics. The most important isolates in pure cultures were coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis and the common contaminant Bacillus spp. Positive cultures were generally not associated with subclinical mastitis. Within a set of key control measures, two management strategies were trialled, one of which reduced the prevalence of subclinical mastitis to very low levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Kelly T, Butcher N, Harrington K, Holmes C, Horne D, Kemp P, Palmer A, Quinn A, Shadbolt N, Thatcher A (2006) Organic-Conventional dairy systems trial in New Zealand: four years results. ISOFAR. http://orgprints.org/4392/ Accessed 21 Sept 2014

  • Makovec JA, Ruegg PL (2003) Results of milk samples submitted for microbiological examination in Wisconsin from 1994 to 2001. J Dairy Sci 86:3466–3472

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petrovski KR, Trajcev M, Buneski G (2006) A review of the factors affecting the costs of bovine mastitis. J S Afr VA 77:52–60

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petrovski KR, Williamson NB, Lopez-Villalobos N, Parkinson TJ, Tucker IG (2011) Culture results from milk samples submitted to veterinary diagnostic laboratories from August 2003 to December 2006 in New Zealand. NZVJ 59(6):317–322

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thatcher A, Petrovski K, Holmes C, Dowson K, Kelly T and McLeod K (2008) A longitudinal study of mastitis on an experimental farm with two herds, one managed organically, the other conventionally. ISOFAR. http://orgprints.org/11559/ Accessed 21 Sept 2014

  • Thatcher A, Petrovski KR, Fraser K (2010) Influence of management techniques on the levels of mastitis in an organic dairy herd. Proc NZSAP 70:316–318

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The project was funded by DairyNZ. Assistance from the staff of DCRU and Kim Fraser is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Alan Thatcher & Natalia Martin

  2. School of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, Australia

    Kiro R. Petrovski

Authors
  1. Alan Thatcher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Natalia Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kiro R. Petrovski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alan Thatcher.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thatcher, A., Martin, N. & Petrovski, K.R. A study of subclinical mastitis in two herds, one managed organically, the other conventionally, and the effect of different management strategies. Org. Agr. 4, 313–317 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-014-0082-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-014-0082-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation