Mastitis Prevention and Cure Rates in Heifers Treated with Spectramast Dry Cow Therapy and/or Orbeseal Dry Cow Teat Sealant

Dairy cows are vital for milk production, cheese, cream, and so much more. Healthy udders and teats are necessary to keep production levels at their highest and to keep the number of cows being culled to the lowest levels. Inflammation of the mammary gland is called mastitis, which is typically caused by bacteria that invade the teat canal. This disease is most often transmitted by contact with contaminated milking equipment, through contaminated hands or udder wash cloths, or by overexposure to bacteria in the cows’ environment. Mastitis is the most economically important disease of adult dairy cattle, and annual losses average approximately $1.7-2 billion (Jones and Bailey, 2009), which are attributed to decreases in milk yield and quality, and costs due to medications, veterinary services, and culling of affected animals.