Pilot study: Refining a culture-guided selective dry cow therapy program to enhance antimicrobial stewardship on dairy farms

Authors

  • S. M. Godden Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
  • E. Royster Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
  • E. Leonard Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
  • D. Albrecht Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
  • J. Timmerman Laboratory for Udder Health, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20228695

Abstract

Selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) programs typically use either milk culture or algorithm methods to identify cows with a high risk of infection, and thereby warranting antimicrobial therapy (AMX) at dry off (DO). Multiple studies have demonstrated that SDCT programs can maintain future cow health while signifi­cantly reducing antimicrobial use (AMU), as compared to blan­ket DCT (BDCT). However, we may be able to further reduce AMU at DO by targeting only specific types of intramammary infection (IMI) that will benefit from AMX. A recent meta-analysis concluded that IMI caused by Streptococcus spp. or Streptococcus-like organisms (SSLO) do benefit from DC therapy, while IMI caused by coliform or non-aureus Staph spp. (NAS) do not. Similarly, IMI caused by other Gram-positive bacteria, in­cluding S. aureus, occur with a relatively low frequency in most herds, and often do not respond to AMX. The Minnesota Easy® Focus® media is selective for SSLO growth in milk samples. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effect of a SDCT program that identifies and treats only IMI caused by SSLO (vs. BDCT) on quarter health and AMU.

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Published

2023-07-17

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