Study of intramammary infections in dairy goats from mountainous regions in Italy

Authors: Cortinovis I, Casazza G, Moroni P, Pisoni G, Ruffo G
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 53, Issue 5, pp 375-376, Oct 2005
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Goat, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Bacterial, International, Mammary gland/udder, Mastitis, Infectious disease, Milk, Disease/defect, Respiratory system
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: The manufacture of dairy products from the milk of small ruminants presents an opportunity to improve the economics of farming in remote areas such as the mountainous regions in northern Italy. Mastitis, particularly subclinical and chronic, is the most persistent and widespread problem affecting milk quality. Currently, there is a lack of information concerning the most common causal agents of mastitis in dairy goat herds in Italy. This study was undertaken to determine the aetiology and prevalence of intramammary infections (IMI), and to measure somatic cell counts (SCC) of dairy goats in mountainous regions of northern Italy. Dairy goats (n=720) from randomly selected flocks (n=10) located in northern Italy (latitude 45°N, longitude 10°E, altitude 872 SD 178 m) were monitored throughout a complete lactation of 9 (SD 0.8) months duration. This number of herds represented…

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