Estimating the effect of mastitis on the profitability of Irish dairy farms

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to estimate the effect of the costs of mastitis on the profitability of Irish dairy farms as indicated by various ranges of bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC). Data were collected from 4 sources and included milk production losses, cases treated, and on-farm practices around mastitis management. The Moorepark Dairy Systems Model, which simulates dairying systems inside the farm gate, was used to carry out the analysis. The cost components of mastitis that affect farm profitability and that were included in the model were milk losses, culling, diagnostic testing, treatment, veterinary attention, discarded milk, and penalties. Farms were grouped by 5 BMSCC thresholds of ≤ 100,000, 100,001-200,000, 200,001-300,000, 300,001-400,000, and > 400,000 cells/mL. The ≤ 100,000 cells/mL threshold was taken as the baseline and the other 4 thresholds were compared relative to this baseline. For a 40-ha farm, the analysis found that as BMSCC increased, milk receipts decreased from €148,843 at a BMSCC <100,000 cells/mL to €138,573 at a BMSCC > 400,000 cells/mL. In addition, as BMSCC increased, livestock receipts increased by 17%, from €43,304 at a BMSCC <100,000 cells/mL to €50,519 at a BMSCC > 400,000 cells/mL. This reflected the higher replacement rates as BMSCC increased and the associated cull cow value. Total farm receipts decreased from €192,147 at the baseline (< 100,000 cells/mL) to €189,091 at a BMSCC > 400,000 cells/mL. Total farm costs increased as BMSCC increased, reflecting treatment, veterinary, diagnostic testing, and replacement heifer costs. At the baseline, total farm costs were €161,085, increasing to €177,343 at a BMSCC > 400,000 cells/mL. Net farm profit decreased as BMSCC increased, from €31,252/yr at the baseline to €11,748/yr at a BMSCC > 400,000 cells/mL. This analysis highlights the impact that mastitis has on the profitability of Irish dairy farms. The analysis presented here can be used to develop a "cost of mastitis" tool for use on Irish dairy farms to motivate farmers to acknowledge the scale of the problem, realize the value of improving mastitis control, and implement effective mastitis control practices.

Antibiofilm and antibacterial effects of specific chitosan molecules on Staphylococcus aureus isolates associated with bovine mastitis

“…Mastitis decreases milk quality and production and reduces profitability because of the cost of treatment and discarded milk due to the risk of antibiotic residues in milk [1]. An intramammary infection (IMI) often occurs when bacteria invade the mammary gland through the teat canal causing an inflammatory response, which translates in either subclinical (visual symptoms are absent) or clinical mastitis (local and/or systemic symptoms are visible) [2, 3].…”

Somatic Cells in Relation to Udder Health and Milk Quality-A Review

“…M astitis, an inflammatory reaction of the mammary gland, is regarded as the most common infectious disease of dairy cows resulting in considerable economic losses for both dairy farmers and milk processors (Halasa et al, 2007;Geary et al, 2012). It is characterized by physical, chemical and bacteriological changes in the milk and pathological transformations in the glandular tissue of the udder.…”

Bovine P-selectin mediates leukocyte adhesion and is highly polymorphic in dairy breeds

“…Mastitis is an inflammatory disease which causes significant economic losses to the dairy industry (Geary et al, 2012;Kossaibati and Esslemont, 2000). The efficiency of the host defense system plays a major role in the ability to deal with mastitis-causing pathogens, and thus ultimately in determining the severity of infection (Burvenich et al, 2003;Rainard and Riollet, 2006).…”