Prevention and treatment of mastitis in the dry period

There is a subdivision of bovine mastitis that separates the categories according to the presentation of the disease. 

The first is the clinical form, characterized by changes in the milk such as lumps, pus, as well as blood, teat tenderness, edema and redness, and in the consistency of the milk, which becomes more watery.

In the subclinical form, the main feature is the increase in somatic cells. There are no alterations in the milk or in the cow, which supports the statistic that for each animal that presents the clinical form, there are 40 other animals presenting the subclinical form.

On certain specific occasions, antibiotic treatment for subclinical bovine mastitis is not affordable. In a few other situations, the breeder still has to deal with low efficacy. However, there is a more favorable moment for treatment, which is the dry period. The so-called dry cow therapy and pre-partum treatment have been shown to be effective in reducing mastitis.

However, care must always be taken after the use of antimicrobials, as both in the lactation period and in the dry period, there is a need for there to be no residue of the drug in the milk.

Penalties for dairy farmers

A situação explica a razão de tantos países instituírem penalidades para produtores de leite que apresentam substâncias antimicrobianas em quantidades impróprias. Acontece que a presença desses resíduos no leite é um critério crucial para a indústria de laticínios em geral, já que não se trata apenas do leite e sim da fabricação dos seus derivados também. São elementos que, além de tudo, oferecem risco à saúde dos consumidores.

A ideia não é deixar de tratar os animais com antibióticos. Até porque, de acordo com Costa et al (2000), só haverá uma quantidade prejudicial de resíduos de antimicrobianos no leite que consumimos caso haja uso incorreto e/ou abusivo de antibióticos. E quando mencionamos o uso incorreto, se trata do uso que desrespeita o período de carência do leite de animais em tratamento ou já tratados (tempo entre 3 a 5 dias), ou aplicações com posologia fora do estipulado em bula.

In short, the passage from a body in a healthy state to one affected by some disease brings inevitable changes. In the next topic, you can see changes in the mammary gland during the dry period, a period that transforms the health of cows. Follow!

The dry period lasts approximately 60 days and is considered the animal's recovery phase. The mammary gland needs the dry period, as this time must be used to optimize milk production in the next lactation. 

We will talk a little about the changes in this period for a better understanding of ways to prevent and treat herds with bovine mastitis.

First phase

The first phase of dry cow physiological changes is the period of active involution at the beginning of the dry period. The moment is caused by the pause in milking and by the increase in intramammary pressure. In the post-drying period that marks this period, the mammary gland undergoes an involution for 2 to 3 days and reaches between 75% and 80% of its production for the day. 

This phase is also marked by a decrease in the availability of iron related to lactoferrin (a protein that participates in the non-specific defense of the gland in involution). The reduction is dangerous because at that moment, there is a competition for iron between the invading bacteria and the lactoferrin.

In general, what facilitates new infections at this stage is the increase in the volume of accumulated milk, which also increases intramammary pressure and favors the entry of microorganisms. But we can also mention the non-removal of the gland's content and the suspension of disinfection of the teats as factors that can lead to an infection by pathogenic agents.

Second level

The second phase is of constant involution and the duration varies according to the duration of the dry period itself. Fortunately, in this phase the incidence of new infections is lower than the others. This is due to the higher levels of antimicrobial factors in association with the lower rate of bacterial entry through the teats. Penetration is made more difficult by a keratin plug in the orifice.

The third and final phase is called lactogenesis or colostrogenesis and starts from 15 to 20 days before parturition. This corresponds to the end of the dry period and the beginning of regeneration and differentiation of secretory epithelial cells. In addition, there is the concentration of immunoglobulins that operate in the generation of colostrum.



This phase is marked by a drop in lymphocytes, a decrease in lactoferrin levels, in the phagocytic activity of macrophages and in polymorphonuclear activity. In other words, at this stage the dry cow is very sensitive to new intramammary infections.

As we have already emphasized, the dry period is a necessity for the animal, however, in certain phases, the dairy cow becomes more fragile, more susceptible to infections due to having its immune system suppressed. It is important to prevent bovine mastitis during this period and to maintain the animals' health, to have all the mammary quarters ready for maximum production in the next lactation, and with low SCC.

Check out some measures to prevent mastitis in your herd:

Perform teat disinfection before and after milking

Cleaning before milking, pre-dipping, should be done after the cup test. And finally, cleaning after milking, post-dipping, must be done after removing the milking equipment. For disinfection, the milker must prioritize products with bactericidal action and immerse the teats completely in the cleaning solutions to ensure the efficient action of the product.

Analyze the possibility of disposal or segregation

Careful consideration of the overall situation is needed to conclude how to prevent transmission of pathogens if cases of infection already exist. In most cases culling and batching infected cows will reduce transmission because some cows become sources of infection for still healthy ones. If you deem it valid, perform the treatment on the entire creation during drying. Take advantage of the fact that in this period there are also higher rates of effective cure of subclinical mastitis.

Prior and responsible management

We have already mentioned the importance of segregation. It saves the herd and prevents a lot of damage when done in time, however it must be done responsibly. Separated cows still need attention, so their placement must be prudent. Management also involves preparing the cow for the next lactation so that it is free of disease and disorders.

Review of individual CCS records

These records need to be reviewed as a precautionary measure. In this way, you can compare the first test after giving birth and the last test in the previous lactation. In the comparison, you analyze whether there was an effective reduction of infections or prevention of new infections during drying.

Eliminate risk factors in the cow's living environment

This environment must be taken care of at all times, however, special attention is expected in the few hours before and after milking. It is essential to eliminate the presence of clay or organic matter, as they are risk factors. Ideally, it should be a clean, airy and dry space, emphasizing that the animal needs access to fresh water, good food and shade.

Hygiene at the time of milking 

Care for the environment at the time of milking should also extend to the equipment. They must be maintained regularly, be clean, and products must be used as directed. 

The dry period is the best time to treat mastitis in subclinical cases. The recommendation to cure the disease and prevent new infections is the use of intramammary antibiotics 60 days before the expected date of delivery.

In order to avoid all the damage that we have already discussed, follow these steps:

1. First, pre-dip with germicide for the teats, but only dry the area with a clean towel after 45 seconds;
2. Use quality products for the treatment and prevention of mastitis in the dry period. Carry out the process on the day of drying in each quarter of each cow;
3. Clean each ceiling area. Make sure you've wiped all edges with disinfectant;
4. Then, after carefully removing the cannula protection tip from the treatment ampoule, insert it partially into the teat canal;
5. If you prefer, use ceiling sealant as an additional protective barrier;
6. Now dip the ceilings with a post-dipping barrier.

As seen in this article, dry cow therapy deserves attention and emphasis. Despite its preventive content, the use of therapy in the treatment of the cow at the end of lactation is a strong action to eliminate the risk of new cases of mastitis during the period. The procedure requires product and proper management.

Do you want even more improvements to bovine mastitis prevention and treatment procedures? Know that Somaticell has everything to help you, from diagnostic solutions to precious information on the subject. Thus, your milk production chain will have the quality you so desire. 

Entre em contato conosco e tire as suas dúvidas!