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Effect of intramammary infection in Bergamasca meat sheep on milk parameters and lamb growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2007

Paolo Moroni ,
Giuliano Pisoni ,
Giorgio Varisco  and
Paul Boettcher
Paolo Moroni*
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Hygiene and Public Health, University of Milan, via Celoria 10, Milan, Italy
Giuliano Pisoni
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Hygiene and Public Health, University of Milan, via Celoria 10, Milan, Italy
Giorgio Varisco
Affiliation:
Department of Food Safety, Istituto Zooprofilattico of Lombardia and Emilia Romagna Brescia25124, Italy
Paul Boettcher
Affiliation:
Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Milan Palazzo LITA, Milan, Italy
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Pooled milk samples from 115 Bergamasca meat sheep were collected aseptically five times from lambing to weaning to determine the prevalence of intramammary infection, somatic cell counts and milk quality parameters (protein, fat and lactose), and effects of infection on lamb weight gain. The global prevalence of subclinical intramammary infection was 51·2%. The Staphylococcus genus was responsible for the greatest prevalence (53·3% among infected udders). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 8·4% of infected milk samples. Infection status had significant effects on fat and protein percentage and on somatic cell count. Lamb growth was greatest for lambs of ewes with no infection and decreased as the number of infected samples increased. No significant differences were detected in the growth of lambs with dams infected by different bacterial species.

Keywords

Intramammary infectionmeat sheeplamb growthmilk parameterssomatic cell
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 74 , Issue 3 , August 2007 , pp. 340 - 344
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2007

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