Mastitis: Personal observations and Comments on Observations

Abstract

The case of mastitis resistant to ampicillin but treated successfully with intra­ venous injections of chloramphenicol is reported and the attitude of the farmers in Kilimanjaro area to the treatment of mastitis described. They treat the hardening of the quarters due to mastitis as the "usual" boil or "usual" swelling of the udder and apply cold fomentation when the udder is hot or hot poultice when the udder is cold. In some cases this treatment leads to the temporary recovery but ultimately the udders become fibrotic. This reduces the yield of milk. However, fibrosis develops after some time only and typically the farmers are more interested in the immediate recovery of the cow than in future gains. An educational campaign is advised to instruct farmers about the health problems and the economic hazards of mastitis. He also suggests the introduction of the standard preventive treatment consisting of washing the udder before milking and dipping of teats in a cup containing about 5% iodine solution after milking.