Clinical Effects and Economic Benefit of an Internal Teat SealantAdministered at Dry-Off

摘要

Treating all quarters of all cows with a long-acting, dry-cow antibiotic at the time of dry-off is widely recommended in North America. Although a keratin plug typically seals the teat after dry-off, 23% of teats, and up to 46% on high producing cows,are still open 6 weeks later (Dingwell et al, 2003). In North America, an internal teat sealant (ITS) has been used in conjunction with antimicrobial dry-cow therapy (ADCT) and shown to decrease new intramammary infections (IMI) by 30% and clinical mastitis (CM) in the first 60 days by 33%(Godden et al, 2003). Cook et al. reported an average economic benefit of $5.38 US per cow in a study in 3 herds in Wisconsin.