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Title: EFFICACY OF INTRAMUSCULAR TREATMENT OF BEEF COWS WITH OXYTETRACYCLINE TO REDUCE MASTITIS AND TO INCREASE CALF GROWTH

Author
item LENTS, C - STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA
item WETTEMANN, R - STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA
item Paape, Max
item VIZCARRA, J - STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA
item LOOPER, M - STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA
item BUCHANAN, D - STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA
item LUSBY, K - STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2002
Publication Date: 8/1/2002
Citation: LENTS, C.A., WETTEMANN, R.P., PAAPE, M.J., VIZCARRA, J.A., LOOPER, M.L., BUCHANAN, D.S., LUSBY, K.S. EFFICACY OF INTRAMUSCULAR TREATMENT OF BEEF COWS WITH OXYTETRACYCLINE TO REDUCE MASTITIS AND TO INCREASE CALF GROWTH. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE. vol. 80, pp. 1405-12, 2002.

Interpretive Summary: Milk production is the most important factor influencing weaning weights of calves. Mastitis decreases milk production in both dairy and beef cows. Intramammary infections in beef cows result in decreased weight gain of calves. Treatment of beef cows for mastitis may increase weight gain of calves. Scientists at the USDA initiated a cooperative study with scientists at Oklahoma State University to determine if intramuscular oxytetracycline treatment would decrease intramammary infection and increase calf growth. It was found that treatment of beef cows with intramuscular oxytetracycline after calving does not decrease somatic cell counts in milk, or decrease intramammary infection at weaning. Weight of calves at mid-lactation and at weaning is not influenced by intramuscular oxytetracycline treatment of cows after calving, but weights are significantly reduced if cows have one or more dry quarters. Methods should be developed to decrease the incidence of dry quarters, and producers should use weaning weights of calves to help identify cows that have nonfunctional quarters, which should be culled.

Technical Abstract: Spring calving Hereford and Angus x Hereford multiparous cows were used to determine the efficacy of intramuscular treatment with oxytetracycline to reduce the incidence of mastitis causing bacteria, decrease milk somatic cell counts (SCC), and increase calf growth. During two years, milk samples were collected from each quarter from a total of 319 cows at 8 to 14 days after calving and at weaning, to determine the presence of bacteria and SCC. Cows with a California Mastitis Test (CMT) score of 1, 2, or 3 in at least one quarter, were randomly assigned to receive either oxytetracycline (n=63) or vehicle (n=60). Cows with a CMT score of 0 in all four quarters were not treated (n=196). Treatment did not alter the percentage of cows or quarters infected with mastitis causing bacteria or SCC of cows or quarters at weaning. Average SCC per cow was negatively correlated with calf weights. Cows with one or more dry quarters after calving had calves that weighed less at 60 days and at weaning than cows with four functional quarters.