Alternative approach to mastitis management – How to prevent and control mastitis without antibiotics?

Abstract

Mastitis affects a high proportion of dairy cows throughout the world and is one of the greater problems faced by the dairy industry today. The disease is still a major cause of economic loss on a dairy farm. Mastitis poses not only negative consequences for the dairy farmer but also for the dairy industry as a number of issues threaten the reputation of milk as a healthy product from healthy animals. The use of antimicrobials is one of those concerns and threats. Antimicrobial usage on dairy farms is most often related to udder health as most medicines are used in prevention and control of mastitis. Antimicrobials remain vital for treatment of bacterial infections in dairy cattle, but in light of the upcoming debate instigated by the potential link between the use of antimicrobial products in animal husbandry and the development of antimicrobial resistance in both animal and human pathogens, there is an urgent need for innovation and alternatives to antibiotic therapy for mastitis treatment and control. Alternative approaches include vaccination, probiotics or beneficial microorganisms and inhibitory substances, immunomodulation, bacteriophages, homeopathy, and plant-derived inhibitory substances, yet only when scientifically-proven evidence is available indicating these alternatives are effective.