Efficacy of an internal teat sealer used in conjunction with intramammary antibiotics on the cure of intramammary infections during the dry period

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if an internal teat sealer used in addition to dry-cow antibiotics would have a beneficial effect on the elimination of intramammary pathogens during the dry period. In total, data from 425 culture-positive quarters from 270 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were utilized in this trial. Milk samples were collected aseptically two weeks prior to the anticipated dry-off date, on the dry-off date and again at 1-8 days-in-milk. Infected quarters were randomly assigned to treatment with both an internal teat sealer and a dry-cow antibiotic, or a dry-cow antibiotic alone. Quarters were defined as cured if the pathogen(s) isolated in the dry-off sample were not isolated in the postpartum sample. There was no difference in overall bacteriological cure between the two treatment groups, internal teat sealer and dry-cow antibiotic versus dry-cow antibiotic alone. Similarly, no significant differences were observed for cure of either major or minor pathogen infections.