Efficacy of an Internal Teat Sealant, Orbeseal, for Reduction of Clinical Mastitis during the First 60 Days Post-partum

Abstract

Clinical mastitis (CM) events often occur during the post-partum period and are important economically. Many CM cases result from infections that have been established during the dry period. In one study, 38.1% of clinical cases had the same bacteria isolated at some point during the dry period.4 Risk factors for development of new intramammary infections (IMI) in the dry period have been reviewed.2 Among the risk factors identified was failure to develop a natural keratin seal in 23.4% of teats.2 These open quarters were 1.8 times more likely to develop a new intramammary infection (IMI). Efficacy of the internal teat sealant, OrbeSeal* (OS) for prevention of new IMis during the dry period has been well established.1,3,5-7 The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of OS infused at dry-off for the reduction of new cases of CM during the first 60 days of lactation, as compared to routine intramammary dry cow antibiotic therapy (DCT).