The effects of commercial mastitis vaccine applied at different stages of lactation on the somatic cell count in individual and bulk tank milk in primiparous and multiparous cows in turkey

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a mastitis vaccine with non-labelled vaccination regimen on the milk somatic cell count (SCC) in primiparous and multiparous cows at different stages of lactation. Material and Methods: In the study, 97 healthy Holstein cows were included and the cows were vaccinated on day 0 (d 0), 21 days later (d 21) and 90 days thereafter (d 111). Individual and bulk tank milk samples were collected for SCC analysis on the 30th day prior to the 1st vaccination and on the 30th day after the 2ⁿd and 3rd vaccinations. Results: Bulk tank milk somatic cell counts (BTMSCC) at prevaccination, and after the 2ⁿd and 3rd vaccinations, were 467, 246, and 371 x1000 cell/ml, respectively. It was observed that average milk SCC was numerically decreased after the 2ⁿd and 3rd vaccinations, with respect to pre-vaccination level (p>0.05). Unremarkable declines in individual SCC (iSCC) were observed in the cows at early, mid or late lactation periods (p>0.05). While the decline in iSCC was numerically in the multiparous cows, it was found to be significant after the 2ⁿd vaccination in the primiparous cows (p0.05). Conclusion: Results suggested that commercial mastitis vaccine with non-labelled vaccination regimen led to a decline in SCC in the milk, particularly in the primiparous cows and in bulk tank milk.

Keywords

• bulk tank milk
• mastitis
• vaccine
• somatic cell count
• dairy cows