Promoting sustainability on moderate-sized dairies: Use of a pathogen-based protocol for treatment of clinical mastitis

2016 Annual Report for GNE16-139

Project Type: Graduate Student
Funds awarded in 2016: $14,926.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2017
Grant Recipient: Cornell University
Region: Northeast
State: New York
Graduate Student:
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Daryl Nydam
Cornell University

Promoting sustainability on moderate-sized dairies: Use of a pathogen-based protocol for treatment of clinical mastitis

Summary

The high incidence and treatment rate of mastitis, defined as inflammation or infection of the mammary gland,and its associated economic losses, denotes it as a disease of interest for development of protocols forprudent antimicrobial use on dairies. One such protocol developed and implemented by our group at a largedairy (3500 cows) compared outcomes of a pathogen-specific protocol to a 5 day blanket treatment protocol. The strategic method of treatment decreased milk withholding time by 3 days for those cows enrolled. There
were no significant differences in days to clinical cure, milk yield, and linear scores post-event, nor additional odds of culling in the months following. If dairies with similar mastitis etiologies employ this protocol, >65% of mild to moderate cases will not be treated. Judicious use of antibiotics by dairy farmers in states such as NY, which have prominent contributions to milk products, can create positive impacts on sustainability by
preventing the selection of resistant organisms, thereby increasing product efficacy. A team of 6 dairies and their respective veterinarians as well as local Quality Milk Production Services laboratories will investigate the application of the protocol on moderate-sized dairies using three-time-a-week milk sample pickup or on farm culture (OFC). Producer’s antimicrobial use pre- and post-study will be assessed through surveys and records. Economic analysis will be performed for each group of dairies. Measures of success will include producer’s perception of outcomes, analysis of specificity and sensitivity of OFC, and monitor of milk quality, quantity, and mastitis incidences.  Minimal work on objectives for this project has been achieved.  A large portion of the work is enrollment of the 6 dairies and training of those individuals that will be reading cultures and treating cows.  This work should be complete by mid-February 2017.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Objectives 1 through 7 as outlined in the grant proposal have not yet been achieved.  

Objective 1:  Determine current antimicrobial use and evaluate clinical mastitis treatment sucess at 6 moderate sized dairies.  

Accomplisments: A email has been generated to query QMPS veterinarians in regards to 6 representative moderate-sized dairies to best use for the project.  A survey is currently under development for use in questioning the selected dairies to obtain information regarding antimicrobial use, and ease/success of the current clinical mastitis treatment protocols.  

Target: We hope to achieve Objective 1 by the end of January, 2017 and begin to enroll the 6 dairies by early February.   

Objective 2: To investigate the efficacy of an on farm culture system (OFC) to guide strategic treatment decisions based on our pathogen based protocol in cows with mild and moderate CM.

Accomplisments: No work has been accomplished on this objective.

Target: Develop and put together a binder for tracking culture results; develop instructions on sample collection and innoculation by mid-January 2017.  Assign 3 farms to OFC by mid-February 2017.

Objective 3: To investigate the efficacy of M/W/F pickup of samples to guide strategic treatment decisions based on our pathogen based protocol in cows with mild and moderate CM.

Accomplisments: No work has been accomplished on this objective.

Target: Assign 3 farms to M/W/F pickup by mid-February 2017.

Objective 4: Assess measures of success

Accomplisments: No work has been accomplished on this objective.

Target: Analyze data by October 2017.

Objective 5: Assess differences between OFC and 3X sample pickup

Accomplisments: No work has been accomplished on this objective.

Target: Analyze data by October 2017.

Objective 6:Publication of data

Accomplisments: No work has been accomplished on this objective.

Target: Likely publication as articles in Hoard’s/Progressive Dairyman by the end of the year 2017.

Objective 7: Outreach to NYS producers, industry representatives, and veterinarians.

Accomplisments: No work has been accomplished on this objective.

Target: Once data is generated, outreach will be continuous.

Accomplishments/Milestones

No accomplishments noted to date.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

No outcomes/impacts noted to date.  The research group currently had a manuscript accepted by the Journal of Dairy Science outlining the proposed clinical mastitis protocol and the ability to reduce antimicrobial use for mild to moderate clinical mastitis by >60%.  We hope the acceptance of this work creates an impact for dairies and dairies begin to adopt this strategy.  We look forward to accomplishing additional work at 6 more dairies as outlined in our SARE project summary.

Collaborators:

Dr. Daryl Nydam

dvn2@cornell.edu
Faculty Advisor
Cornell University
240 Farrier Rd
Ithaca, New York 14853
United States