Ciência Animal Brasileira (Jul 2016)
MILK COMPOSITION OF SAANEN GOATS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED BY Staphylococcus aureus AND SUBJECTED TO TWO TREATMENT PROTOCOLS
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of milk after infection and treatment of mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Ten Saanen goats were used. Experimental infection was performed in 20 mammary glands, forming four groups, each consisting of five mammary glands. One group was treated with commercial antimicrobial and another with natural plant extract-based ointment. The other groups were constituted as control. The values obtained for fat, lactose, protein, total solids, and milk production were analyzed through the experimental moments, comparing them among each other and between experimental groups. Mastitis was diagnosed by milk microbiology after 24 hours of inoculation. The animals showed no changes in the clinical parameters evaluated. For the percentage of fat, protein, and total solids, there was an increase over the experimental moments. However, there was variation among the experimental groups. Given the importance of conventional antimicrobial therapy and the increased use of natural antimicrobials, obtained results showed equality between the two treatment options, especially regarding the maintenance of the main milk components. Keywords: goat; milk composition; therapy; mastitis.