PSXIV-5 Results of external use of staphylococcal toxoid for the prevention of mastitis in cows

Abstract

Mastitis in cows in the farms of the Russian Federation cause great economic damage. Economic losses include the cost of treating cows and the cost of recycled milk. In the farms of the North-West region of the Russian Federation mastitis occurs in 20–30% of lactating cows. An important task is to find effective ways to prevent mastitis. The task of our research included the study of the effectiveness of external use of staphylococcal toxoid. For the experiment, 2 experimental groups of dry cows of 10 animals each were formed. For the first group of cows, 5 days before the expected date of calving, an ointment containing staphylococcal toxoid and dimethyl sulfoxide was applied to the area of the milk mirror. Udder treatment was performed once a day for five days. Cows of the second group were immunized with Starvac® vaccine in accordance with the instructions, twice during the dry period. The third group of cows (n = 20) was the control. After calving, the concentration of immunoglobulins in colostrum was examined in all cows. In cows of the first group, the concentration of immunoglobulins G, M and A in colostrum was 8.59 ± 0.9; 1.1 ± 0.13 and 5.42 ± 0.9 g / l, respectively. The concentration of immunoglobulins in cows of the first group was higher, on average, by 1.3–2.0 times in comparison with cows that were given the Starvac vaccine. In comparison with the control group, the growth of all classes of immunoglobulins was determined by 2.2 - 5.2 times (P < 0.01). The results obtained showed high efficacy of external use of staphylococcal toxoid together with dimethisulfoxide.