Pharmacoeconomic Analysis of the Different Therapeutic Approaches in Control of Bovine Mastitis: Phytotherapy and Antimicrobial Treatment

Abstract

Mastitis in dairy cows is responsible for major economic losses on dairy farms worldwide as the most expensive and prevalent disease in dairy cattle. In spite of the fact that antibiotic therapy still remains the main treatment strategy for bovine mastitis, concerns about the shortcomings of this treatment approach are continuously raised. Hence, research on alternative treatments with increased effectiveness and reduced costs is needed. Therefore, we conducted a pharmacoeconomic analysis of conventional antibiotic vs. a proposed Phyto-Bomat treatment based on essential oils in bovine mastitis therapy. Treatments were compared from the farmer’s perspective in the domain of costs (expressed in total, direct and indirect, cost differences) and effectiveness (expressed in daily milk yield differences). Economic calculations were based on data from a dairy farm in Serbia. The average cost of conventional antibiotic treatment was estimated at EUR 80.32 consisting of therapy costs, veterinary services and milk rejection costs at EUR 16.54, EUR 17.68 and EUR 46.10, respectively. The average cost of Phyto-Bomat treatment was estimated at EUR 76.34 with therapy costs of EUR 34.34, veterinary costs of EUR 32.00 and rejection of milk costs of only EUR 10.00. Therefore, Phyto-Bomat results in cost savings approximating EUR 4 per each mastitis episode with the highest cost reductions obtained in milk rejection costs. This estimation of Phyto-Bomat’s economic benefits could be used as a starting point for the inclusion of this formulation as an alternative treatment approach with a focus on subclinical mastitis since it contributes to most of the financial losses.

Antimicrobial Resistance of Cattle Mastitis-Causing Bacteria: How to Treat?

“…Unfortunately, undesirable properties like instability, biodegradability and low solubility of essential oils in certain solutions exist but could be improved in combinations with nanomaterials to improve their transport and efficiency. Phytotherapy utilisation may highlight significant economic benefits, especially with a focus on subclinical mastitis, because it is responsible for most of the financial losses [27,92,94] and could have a great potential to be used not just in conventional but especially in organic farms.…”

Alternatives to Antimicrobial Treatment in Bovine Mastitis Therapy: A Review

“…The literature data suggest that the limitation of EO application could be due to the instability, biodegradability, and low solubility in certain solutions, pointing out that the development of delivery systems, such as metal nanoparticles, could improve previously mentioned EO shortcomings [ 4 ]. Moreover, pharmacoeconomic analysis was applied in veterinary medicine for the first time in order to assess the clinical and economic value of the EO-based alternative (Phyto-Bomat), highlighting economic benefits (savings) for farmers associated with the use of this treatment, with a focus on subclinical mastitis, since it contributes to most of the financial losses [ 129 ]. In line with the aforementioned, phytotherapy has a great potential in the management of bovine mastitis, especially EO-based formulations.…”

Phytotherapeutic Approaches for the Treatment of Animals in Pakistan: A One Health Perspective

“…These chemicals have the capacity to improve the antibacterial activity against a range of bacteria either alone or in combination with antibiotics. Plant-based medications are less expensive and have fewer side effects (Kovacevic et al, 2023).…”