Case report
Mastitis in beef bulls on a feeding test
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol43no2p84-87Keywords:
bull, mastitis, beef bulls, beef cattle, bovine mastitis, bulls, clinical aspects, coagulase negative staphylococci, coliform bacteria, diagnosis, disease prevalence, drug therapy, epidemiology, outbreaks, bovineAbstract
This case study describes an outbreak of mastitis in beef bulls in Georgia in the summer of 2007, and the observed effects of mastitis on measures of growth. Twenty-one of 97 bulls at a bull test station were found to have enlarged mammary glands with expressible fluid and purulent material. Bacteriologic culture of the exudates revealed numerous environmental pathogens. Treatment was attempted with intramammary infusion of chlorhexidine diacetate and intramammary antimicrobials, but did not result in clinical cure. Affected and unaffected bulls did not differ in average daily gain or weight per day of age. Reproductive consequences of mastitis could not be evaluated.