Teatseal in New Zealand and overseas has been repeatedly shown to provide protection against new intramammary infections (IMI) during the dry period when administered alone to uninfected cows. Prevention of new intramammary infections leads to a significant reduction in the incidence of clinical mastitis during the dry period, through calving and into lactation.
Teatseal alone
SmartSAMM Technote 14 recommends that internal teat sealants may be used alone in cows that:
- Have not exceeded a herd test somatic cell count of 150,000 cells/ml at one or more of at least three herd tests for the lactation
- Have not had a case of clinical mastitis
- Come from a farm with a low risk of cow-associated mastitis eg. Staph aureus
Zoetis-sponsored independent research has shown that a single herd test, provided it is conducted within 80 days of drying off, is as accurate as multiple herd tests at predicting IMI status. For herds that do not perform herd testing, the rapid mastitis test is equally accurate, provided it is performed correctly.
Large numbers of cows in New Zealand have dry periods that are longer than the protective period of any dry cow antibiotic. The schematic below shows an example distribution of dry period lengths on a New Zealand farm. New Zealand studies have shown an average dry period length of approximately 13 weeks. The blue line shows the protective period of the longest acting dry cow antibiotic.
Teatseal provides long lasting protection over the dry period. Given that many cows are unprotected by ABDCT for at least part of the dry period, Teatseal should be used at drying off to cover the critical pre-calving period when the teat canal may open.
Teatseal in heifers
Heifers have been shown to have a higher risk of clinical mastitis in early lactation than older cows. This leaves them at increased risk of having light quarters, teat canal thickening or being culled. With heifer mastitis rates over 25% on many New Zealand farms, the magnitude of the problem and the associated costs become very clear.
Teatseal administered to maiden heifers approximately 4 weeks pre-calving dramatically reduces clinical mastitis around calving, thereby reducing the cost and frustration associated with heifer mastitis. If necessary, Teatseal can be administered closer to calving (1-4 weeks prior to planned start of calving).
New Zealand research showed that administering Teatseal approximately 4 weeks pre-calving resulted in:
- 84% reduction in Strep uberis infections at calving.
- 68% reduction in clinical mastitis in the first two weeks of lactation
For more information about using Teatseal contact your veterinarian.
