MACHINE EFFECTS ON CYTOLOGICAL DEFENCE MECHANISMS IN THE TEAT TISSUE

摘要

Despite the modern milking technique, the availability of chemotherapeutical mastitis therapy and up-to-date herd management strategies, mastitis is still the most costly disease complex in dairy herds worldwide. The general trends in dairying indicate the increase in consumer demand for higher milk quality, the increase in restrictions to apply chemotherapeutics and other chemical reagents and the increase in the need to extend the longevity of cows by economic reasons. Therefore it is currently fundamental to question whether the machine action may predispose to the new infection risk, not only under economical aspects but also considering conditions of sustainability.