The Coliform mastitis enigma

Abstract

Milking equipment has long been implicated in mastitis, and its role in causing or avoiding mastitis and teat lesions will be discussed by Drs. Thompson, Sagie, Hamann and Sieber. The very interesting report of Heckman and Noorlander show by electron microscopy that minute imperfections in the surface of inflations may harbor coliform and other bacteria. When to this list of contributors we add those of Drs. van den Heever and Saran we can really look with optimism toward new understanding and new knowledge of technology to reduce mastitis problems of all kinds.

Several reports have suggested that bedding coliform populations are an important factor predisposing to coliform mastitis.

With this background I wish to discuss observations, materials and methods made by Dr. E. J. Carroll and myself on several dairies typical of our area of California and which we have reported to the National Mastitis Council.