Herds with Mycoplasma problems are candidates for CCT Colostrum
Tuesday 28th April 2009
- 1. CCT can help break the spread of mycoplasma infection from generation to generation. Baby calves are most likely exposed to mycoplasma infection by drinking colostrum or waste milk from cows with mycoplasma mastitis. Feeding CCT in place of colostrum from infected cows can help break the cycle of infection. However, as with Johne's disease, CCT is not a total preventative program in itself, but can be an essential part of a broad mycoplasma biosecurity plan designed by the herd veterinarian.
- 2. CCT contains antibodies that will help protect calves against infection with mycoplasma or other infectious organisms that make calves more susceptible to mycoplasma infection.
How common is mycoplasma mastitis?
The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Dairy 2002 study looked at the prevalence of Mycoplasma species in bulk tank milk of 871 herds in 21 US states. That study found that 7.9% of dairies tested positive, but the prevalence increased with herd size and was an alarming 21.7% in herds with 500 head or more. These figures are likely an underestimate of the real prevalence because only one sample was tested from each herd.
Your herd status with regard to mycoplasma:
Mycoplasma species can infect animals of all ages. Common clinical signs are described below, but a diagnosis should be confirmed by growing the organism in a laboratory from samples taken from one or more suspect animals. Calves that become infected from drinking colostrum from a cow with mycoplasma mastitis can show a number of clinical signs, including the following:
- Inner ear infection - This can be seen in calves as young as 4 days of age. Affected calves may have paralysis of the face that will be revealed by one or two droopy ears, head tilt and excessive tearing. Pus may also be present in the ear canal and on the external ear.
- Arthritis, as shown by swelling of joints and lameness.
- Pneumonia - Respiratory signs can show up as early as two weeks and into adulthood. The disease can be difficult to detect in the early stages and some calves are not noticed until 50% or more of the lung tissue is damaged. While they may survive, the chances of them becoming a productive milking cow are low.
- Infection of the mammary gland - This has been reported in calves as young as 7 weeks of age. It often goes undetected, but can be found when replacement heifers are inspected for extra teats at several months of age. Calves that are undetected can serve as a reservoir and maintain the infection until they enter the milking line and develop mastitis themselves. This completes the cycle of transferring mastitis infection from one generation to the next. They can also become a major source of infection of other cows.
Cows with mycoplasma mastitis are highly contagious and spread can be rapid.
- Trademarks of mycoplasma infection in individual cows are that often multiple quarters are affected and response to treatment is poor. This can result in an increase in death as well as culling rates because damage to the mammary gland is usually permanent.
- Cows with mycoplasma mastitis usually do not show systemic signs of disease such as loss of appetite or high fever, but milk production can drop suddenly and dramatically.
- Carriers may not show any clinical signs. This means that infection is likely being spread to newborn calves through the colostrum without the dairyman being aware of it.
- Infection can spread from cow to cow during milking. There may be changes in the appearance of the milk but it varies between cows and through the course of the infection.
- New infections can occur after the herd has experienced an outbreak of pneumonia.
- Infection without clinical signs (subclinical infection) can occur with or without increased somatic cell counts.
- Early detection and segregation or culling of infected animal is essential.
- Laboratory culturing of bulk tank milk is a good way to monitor a herd for the presence of mycoplasma mastitis, and individual cows with mastitis, as well as new entrants to a herd, should also be cultured.
In summary, feeding Calf's Choice Total TM can be an important part of an overall mycoplasma control program. It can help to break the transmission cycle of mycoplasma and to ensure newborn calves have high IgG levels that will help prevent (directly or indirectly) mycoplasma infection and disease.