MASTITIS MAY SHOW UP

Press, 20 April 1979, Page 7

MASTITIS MAY SHOW UP

Mastitis is uncommon in ewes suckling iambs, but could become a problem in machine-milked ewes. “Overseas workers have found this to be the case,” says Mr R. C. Gumbrell, a veterinary investigation officer at the Animal Health Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture at Lincoln.

“It is likely that the changes in husbandry' and techniques associated with machine-milking ewes will result in mastitis causing a similar problem in dairy ewes as it does in dairy cows,” he said. In France 3 to 4 per cent of milking ewes are affected nationally. Mastitis has occurred in the dairy ewes at Templeton, Mr Gumbrell said. “Affected ewes have had clots in their milk, their udders have been swollen and hot and they have been very depressed. Several have died, but others

have recovered with teat penicillin treatment.” Mastitis in ewes suckling lambs is usually acute when it does occur, is often gangrenous and sometimes fatal. Farmers milking ewes will need to adopt similar hygiene and control procedures in their sheds to those used in milking dairy cattle, Mr Gumbrell said. “Any evidence of changes in milk quality or udder appearance should be promptly and thoroughly investigated by a veterinarian.” Eyves affected with mastitis should be treated with an antibiotic immediately. Infections can be detected early by teat squeezing before putting the cups on each ewe. Badly affected ewes should be removed from the flock entirely and milk from ewes treated with penicillin should be with-, held for at least 72 hours.