Herd benefit-to-cost ratio and effects of a bovine mastitis control program that includes blitz treatment of Streptococcus agalactiae.

Twelve dairy herds that had participated in the Pennsylvania Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) program for at least 12 months, that had a 12-month mean DHIA somatic cell count greater than 700,000 cells/ml, and that had greater than 25% of lactating cows infected with Streptococcus agalactiae participated in a herd blitz treatment program. Initially, quarter milk samples for bacteriologic culturing were collected from all lactating cows. Subsequently, all cows identified as infected with Str agalactiae were treated, using a commercial penicillin-novobiocin intramammary infusion product. In addition, a herd mastitis management program of postmilking teat dipping and treatment of all cows at the start of the nonlactating period was instituted. Thirty days after the initial herd visit, samples from all lactating cows were again cultured, and cows infected at that time were treated. Twelve months after the initial herd visit, samples from all lactating cows were again cultured. Mean prevalence of infection with Str agalactiae decreased (P less than 0.05) from 23.0% of quarters and 41.6% of cows initially to 3.4% of quarters and 9.3% of cows at 30 days and 1.6% of quarters and 4.2% of cows at 1 year. Mean herd DHIA somatic cell count decreased (P less than 0.05) from 918,000 cells/ml initially to 439,000 cells/ml at 30 days and 268,000 cells/ml at 1 year.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)