Mastitis and related management factors in certified organic dairy herds in Sweden
Mastitis and related management factors in certified organic dairy herds in Sweden
复制标题
瑞典有机认证奶牛群的乳腺炎及相关管理因素
DOI：
--
复制
发表时间：
2006
影响因子：
2.1
通讯作者：
T. Ekman
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
C. Hamilton;U. Emanuelson;K. Forslund;I. Hansson;T. Ekman
背景乳房炎是威胁动物健康的主要因素之一，在有机农业和传统农业中都是如此。对有机牛群的初步研究表明，与传统牛群相比，这类牛群的乳房健康状况更好。为进一步研究认证有机奶牛群的乳房炎及其管理相关因素。方法对瑞典中东部地区26个认证有机奶牛群进行为期一年的观察研究。一名大型动物从业者三次走访牛群，对奶牛进行临床检查和取样，并收集有关一般健康和管理惯例的信息。从官方记录中检索了26个牛群和1102个常规牛群中一名兽医治疗的产奶量和疾病的数据。结果参与研究的有机牛群规模从12头到牛不等，产奶量为3772~10334 kg/头，散奶体细胞数为83000~280000个/ml。与常规牛群相比，有机牛群临床乳房炎和乳头损伤的发生率较低，体细胞计数较高的奶牛比例也较低。乳房病原菌的光谱与瑞典其他研究中发现的相似。研究发现，乳房炎的治疗方法与传统牛群的治疗方法相似。顺势疗法并没有广泛应用于临床乳房炎的治疗。这些有机牛群中的大多数小牛犊哺乳的时间只有几天，这被认为不会对乳房健康造成实质性影响。与传统牧群不同的主要管理因素是饲养策略，有机牧群使用更大份额的饲料。结论瑞典有机牧群的乌德健康似乎比同等规模和产量的传统牧群更好。这两种类型的养殖场在管理上的主要区别是饲养精料的比例不同。解释奶牛饲喂强度和乳房健康之间关系的机制需要进一步研究。
BackgroundMastitis is one of the major threats to animal health, in organic farming as well as conventional. Preliminary studies of organic dairy herds have indicated better udder health in such herds, as compared to conventional herds. The aim of this paper was to further study mastitis and management related factors in certified organic dairy herds.MethodsAn observational study of 26 certified organic dairy herds in mid-eastern Sweden was conducted during one year. A large-animal practitioner visited the herds three times and clinically examined and sampled cows, and collected information about general health and management routines. Data on milk production and disorders treated by a veterinarian in the 26 herds, as well as in 1102 conventional herds, were retrieved from official records. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations between herd type (organic vs. conventional) and incidence of disorders.ResultsThe organic herds that took part in the study ranged in size from 12 to 64 cows, in milk production from 3772 to 10334 kg per cow and year, and in bulk milk somatic cell counts from 83000 to 280000 cells/ml. The organic herds were found to have a lower incidence of clinical mastitis, teat injuries, and a lower proportion of cows with a high somatic cell count (as indicated by the UDS, Udder Disease Score) compared to conventional herds. The spectrum of udder pathogenic bacteria was similar to that found in other Swedish studies. Treatment of mastitis was found to be similar to what is practised in conventional herds. Homeopathic remedies were not widely used in the treatment of clinical mastitis.The calves in most of these organic herds suckled their dams for only a few days, which were not considered to substantially affect the udder health. The main management factor that was different from conventional herds was the feeding strategy, where organic herds used a larger share of forage.ConclusionUdder health in Swedish organic herds appears to be better than in conventional herds of comparable size and production. The major difference in management between the two types of farms is the proportion of concentrates fed. The mechanisms explaining the association between intensity of feeding and udder health in dairy cows require further research.