Prevalence and Effects of Intramammary Infection in Beef Cows

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Abstract
Prevalence and effects of intramammary infection in 322 beef cows was determined during three calving intervals. Intramammary infection was confirmed in 37% of cows and 18.1% of quarters. Coagulase-posidve staphylococci accounted for 17.9% of infections with Staphylococcus aureus isolated from 7.1% of cows. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and micrococci accounted for the remainder of infectious organisms. Butterfat and total protein levels were reduced 27.3 (P<.05) and 25.5% (P<.01), respectively, in milk from quarters infected with S. aureus. Somatic cell counts were elevated (P<.001) with 3,827 × 103 cells/ml for S. aureus-infected quarters as compared with 555 × 103 cells/ml for uninfected quarters. Somatic cell counts were negatively correlated with 210-d calf weaning weights. Staphylococcus aureus-infected cows weaned calves weighing 19.1 kg less (P<.01) than uninfected cows. At a present market value of $1.65/kg, economie losses were placed at $31.43/calf from cows infected with S. aureus in one or more quarters. Copyright © 1986. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1986 by American Society of Animal Science

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