Farm-specific selective dry cow treatment protocols using a new rapid tube test for identifying mastitis pathogens in dry off milk samples
Keywords:
antibiotic treatment, antimicrobial usage, antimicrobial resistance, cure risk, treatment-worthy quartersAbstract
Blanket dry cow treatment has long been routine on dairy farms, but rising antimicrobial resistance has increased the need for targeted approaches. Selective dry cow treatment (SDCT) treats only cows with infections that warrant antibiotic use. Implementing SDCT, however, can be challenging. In this observational study, farm-specific protocols were developed and applied on ten commercial dairy farms in Germany. Regular milk recordings and on-farm visits were used to design suitable protocols that also reflected farmers’ concerns about reducing antibiotic usage. Each protocol included farm-specific somatic cell count (SCC) thresholds for preselection and a newly developed rapid tube test for final decision-making. The test contained a pink medium that turned white when bacterial growth occurred. Tests were performed by farmers or staff at cow or quarter level. Udder health was monitored through milk recordings (SCC, new infection risk, and cure risk during the dry period), with protocols adjusted as needed. A total of 930 rapid ube tests were conducted and compared with cyto-microbiological diagnostics. Of 3,093 dry-off samples, over 70% showed no treatment-worthy infections, with farm variation between 54% and 86%. Treatment-worthy Gram-positive cocci infections were detected with 62.34% sensitivity, 73.74% specificity, and 70.95% accuracy at quarter level. The overall udder health was not negatively affected by SDCT; several farms even showed improved cure risk (n=6) or reduced new infection risks (n=6). Antimicrobial use decreased by 13.33% overall, with greater reductions when treatment occurred at quarter level. Based on microbiological results, a potential reduction of over 70% would be possible.
The findings indicate that the on-farm test can support more targeted dry cow treatment decisions, while additional measures to prevent new intramammary infections remain essential in any SDCT protocol.
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