The responsible use of antimicrobial therapy in the control of bovine mastitis in dairy herds

Abstract

Although antibiotic use in the dairy sector is relatively low when compared with other species such as pigs and poultry, dairy herds are likely to come under increasing scrutiny regarding the use of antimicrobials to prevent endemic diseases, particularly in the context of mastitis control. While the treatment of existing infections remains an important part of mastitis herd health, it is prudent to consider the use of antibiotics in mastitis control within the framework of the British Veterinary Association's recent guide to the responsible use of antimicrobial drugs in veterinary practice. Working with clients to avoid the need for antimicrobials using disease control programmes is the first of eight points in the guide and the most important; the recent roll-out of the national DairyCo Mastitis Control Plan has prompted renewed interest in the prevention and control of new intramammary infections and therefore minimising the use of antibiotics in mastitis control.