Different European Perspectives on the Treatment of Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows

Abstract

As part of the European Network for Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial Treatment (ENOVAT), a webinar on the topic "Different European Perspectives on the Treatment of Subclinical Mastitis in Lactation" was held on September 21, 2022, during which eight mastitis experts from different European countries (France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) presented their treatment approaches for subclinical mastitis during lactation. The information provided by the experts is based on experience, guidelines, surveys, and opinions of the university to which they belong. The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic approaches to identify commonalities and differences. It was not the aim of the webinar to identify the best approach for the treatment of subclinical mastitis, but to better understand the different approaches in the different countries in order to find starting points for long-term harmonization.

The definition of subclinical mastitis varies from country to country. However, in all countries the definition is based on the presence of increased somatic cell count (SCC) in the quarter milk but without clinical signs or visual changes in the milk and is usually caused by an intramammary infection (IMI). Particularly regarding the cell count limit, the definitions differ between countries. In all participating countries, treatment of subclinical mastitis is not standard practice. This varies from a general rejection of treatment during lactation to treatment in special situations, involving the risk of penalties if a certain threshold of cells in the bulk tank milk is exceeded. Diagnostically, in its simplest form, subclinical mastitis in cows is determined by an individual cow SCC being greater than a threshold.