Control of sub-clinical mastitis by intramammary antibiotics infusion during lactation in Kenya.

Abstract

Intramammary antibiotics therapy with 600 000 IU penicillin G sodium, 600 000 IU dihydrostreptomycin sulphate and 10 000 IU vitamin A palmitate, was studied in 3 dairy herds in the Kiambu district of Kenya. One herd consisted of 59 cows of mixed breeds (Friesians, Ayrshires, Guernseys and Jerseys), one consisted of 35 Ayrshire cows and the other of 29 Friesian cows. A marked decrease in the incidence of positive CMT quarters was observed in all 3 herds 1 wk after treatment. After a 2nd treatment with antibiotics there was no further improvement with 2 herds, but there was an overall decrease of 30% in the numbers of CMT positive cows in the 3rd herd which had the highest initial incidence of subclinical mastitis. Failure to provide satisfactory milking hygiene in 1 of the other 2 herds was the cause of the poor response to the antibiotics treatment.