Avaliação de uma metodologia profilática contra a mastite clínica em ovelhas da raça Santa Inês Evaluation of a prophylactic method against clinical mastitis in Santa Inês ewes

• Main Authors: C.B. Melo, B.M. Almeida, A.A. Oliveira, H.C. Azevedo, L.S.S. Melo, S.S. Mata
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais 2008-08-01
• Series: Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia
• Subjects: ovino; Santa Inês; lactação; secagem; mastite; sheep; lactation; drying off; mastitis
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-09352008000400033
• ISSN: 0102-0935; 1678-4162

<abstract language="eng">Mastitis is an important problem for the Santa Inês ewes and is a disease strongly related to the management carried out in the herd. A comparative study was carried out between the proposed method based on drying (treatment) and the traditional method (control). Sixty-two Santa Inês ewes raised in a semi-extensive system were divided in two groups of 31 ewes each: treatment group (G1) and control group (G2). The animals were monitored each week searching for clinical sings of mastitis. In 8.4% of G1 and 41.3% of G2 animals, the udder was warm and hyperemic. The presence of residual milk was lower in G1 (24.3%) compared to those of G2 (74.2%). The proposed treatment for the control of ovine mastitis significantly reduced the frequency of the clinical signs of the disease.