Control of subclinical mastitis (scm) in cows through application of an herbal gel Nath K*, Dutta Jyoti B** Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, Guwahati-22, India *E-mail: drkrishnaa@sify.com
**jyotibdutta@rediffmail.com
Abstract A study was undertaken to access the effectiveness of Mastilep topical herbal gel, in the control of subclinical mastitis. The study was carried out during the period from August 1998 to September 1999 in four small dairy units in the Khanapara region of Assam and Meghalaya. The farms collectively had 89 cross-bred (Jersey X Local) cows, of which 34 cows were in their early stage of lactation, 21 in mid lactation, 16 in late lactation and the remaining 18 were dried off due to pregnancy. The overall prevalence of SCM was found to be 64.7 per cent. In farm 1, (antibiotic treated cows), out of 12 affected animals, 5 were cured using Pendisrin-SH or Vetclox Plus (commercially available intramammary antibiotic therapy). The non-recovered cows were treated with Gentamycin sulphate based on their antibiograms. Out of 18 cows each affected in two other farms 15 and 16 recovered after Mastilep treatment, showing a recovery rate of 88.3 and 88.8 per cent, respectively. SCM appeared on farm I in about four months after it remained free from SCM. On the other hand, the prevalence rates of farms II and III were lower and the incidence rate of SCM on farm III was zero, indicating that Mastilep had a protective effect too. After bacterial isolation Staphylococcus aureus alone was found to be the major mastitogen from the non-recovered cows in farm 1. Staphylococcus aureus along with Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus bovis were also isolated from the other two farms. Top Key words Subclinical mastitis, mastilep, antibiotics, herbal therapy. Top |