Evaluation of systematic California Mastitis Tests and vaginal examinations as measures of antimicrobial use in dairy herds

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluation of systematic California Mastitis Tests and vaginal examinations as measures of antimicrobial use in dairy herds

AU - Krogh, M.A.

AU - Forkman, B.

AU - Østergaard, S.

AU - Houe, H.

AU - Sørensen, J.t.

PY - 2018/10/1

Y1 - 2018/10/1

N2 - Antimicrobial use is a commonly applied proxy for animal health and welfare impairment related to disease status in dairy herds. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between antimicrobial use and the results of systematic clinical examinations for metritis and mastitis. Data was collected from 109 Danish dairy herds over a 5-year period. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the results of vaginal examinations and California mastitis tests on fresh cows were poor predictors of antimicrobial use at the herd level and 52% of the variance in the clinical data could be explained by herd-level factors. The results could be explained by the concept of a treatment threshold within each herd. We suggest that antimicrobial use should be categorised as a decision made by the herd manager rather than an approximation of disease status in the herd.

AB - Antimicrobial use is a commonly applied proxy for animal health and welfare impairment related to disease status in dairy herds. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between antimicrobial use and the results of systematic clinical examinations for metritis and mastitis. Data was collected from 109 Danish dairy herds over a 5-year period. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the results of vaginal examinations and California mastitis tests on fresh cows were poor predictors of antimicrobial use at the herd level and 52% of the variance in the clinical data could be explained by herd-level factors. The results could be explained by the concept of a treatment threshold within each herd. We suggest that antimicrobial use should be categorised as a decision made by the herd manager rather than an approximation of disease status in the herd.

U2 - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.08.011

DO - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.08.011

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30268331

SN - 1090-0233

VL - 240

SP - 37

EP - 39

JO - The Veterinary Journal

JF - The Veterinary Journal

ER -