Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #141933

Title: EFFECT OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL INTRAMAMMARY INFECTION ON MILK COMPOSITION OF GOATS

Author
item TOMITA, G - LANGSTON UNIV OK
item MIN, B - LANGSTON UNIV OK
item HART, S - LANGSTON UNIV OK
item Paape, Max

Submitted to: Mastitis Council Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2002
Publication Date: 12/12/2002
Citation: Tomita, G.M., Min, B.R., Hart, S.P., Paape, M.J. 2002. Effect of staphylococcal intramammary infection on milk composition of goats [abstract]. Mastitis Council Meeting Proceedings, p 32.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The following study was conducted to characterize relationship between subclinical staphylococcal mastitis and experimentally induced clinical S. aureus mastitis on milk constituents of dairy goats. Monthly milk samples (May through September) from udder halves of lactating does were collected to determine SCC (Fossomatic 300) and percent of fat and protein (Dairy Lab II). The right udder half of seven midlactation goats was challenged with S. aureus to induce clinical mastitis. Milk samples from challenged and nonchallenged udder halves were collected to determine SCC, fat, and protein as described above. The logarithm of milk SCC was highest in samples from clinical IMI (6.75) followed by samples from subclinical IMI (6.39) and noninfected halves (5.96). The fat content of milk was depressed by clinical S. aureus mastitis, but was not affected by subclinical infections. Milk protein was elevated in clinical mastitis samples and subclinical samples were not different from noninfected halves. Clinical mastitis in one udder half of goats modify composition of milk in the adjacent half. Therefore, consideration must be given to both udder halves when evaluating the health status of mammary glands in dairy goats. Halves infected by S. aureus had a significantly higher SCC when compared with halves infected by CNS. This suggests that mastitis caused by S. aureus is more detrimental to mammary gland health and reduces milk quality of dairy goats.