Bacterial Load of the Teat Apex Skin and Associated Factors at Herd Level

Abstract

In order to reduce antimicrobial treatment and prevent environmental mastitis, the aim of the present study was to investigate associations between herd level factors and microbial load on teat ends with environmental mastitis pathogens. Quarterly farm visits of 31 dairy farms over a one-year period were used for statistical analysis. During each farm visit, teat-skin swabs, bedding and air samples were taken and management practices and herd parameters were documented. Total mesophilic bacteria, esculin-positive streptococci and coliform bacteria were examined in the laboratory procedures from teat skin and environmental samples. Esculin-positive streptococci and coliform bacteria on teat ends increased with high temperature–humidity indices (THI) in the barn during the spring and summer. Significantly more coliform bacteria on teat ends were found in herds with an increased percentage of normal or slightly rough teat ends. Cleaning cubicles more frequently, pre-cleaning teats before milking as well as post-dipping them after milking had a decreasing effect of teat-skin load with total mesophilic and coliform bacteria at the herd level. To conclude, teat-skin bacterial load with environmental pathogens is subject to fluctuations and can be influenced by aspects of farm hygiene.

Factors affecting the microbiological quality and contamination of farm bulk milk by Staphylococcus aureus in dairy farms in Asella, Ethiopia

“…The CC in our finding agrees with reports from central Ethiopia [53] and Brazil [15]. In line with our findings, dirty barns [50], dirty cows [5,56] and soiled udder and teats [16] were reported to be associated with increased CC in bulk milk. In this study, the use of warm water to clean teats was related to low CC.…”

“…These conditions might have been resulted in soiling of the udder and teats, which might ultimately contaminate milk [49]. Udder and teat hygiene are the major factors associated with microbial contamination in bulk milk [15,50]. Pre-and/or postmilking teat disinfection were reported to reduce the bacterial load on teat skin and were found to be the most effective practice against environmental bacteria [8,51].…”

Neutrophil and CD4+ milk cell count related to natural incidence of mastitis in Jersey cattle

“…and Enterobacter aerogenes ) also cause mastitis. The endotoxins contained in the bacterial cell wall have a pathogenic effect (Hohmann et al ., 2020).…”

Management-Associated Risk Factors for Heifer Mastitis before and after Parturition in German Dairy Herds

“…This could be a possible explanation for the worse HMR in herds using moist teat cleaning devices. On the other hand, Hohmann et al [ 36 ] found no increase in bacterial loads when more than one cow was cleaned per wipe. However, efficiency of teat cleaning not only depends on the device used for cleaning, but also on how thorough the person is when cleaning the teat.…”