Current methods
for detecting and diagnosing mastitis in dairy cows are not serving the
needs of dairy producers well, according to a survey of leading dairy
veterinarians conducted at the recent annual meeting of the American
Association of Bovine Practitioners in Charlotte, NC. The veterinarians
surveyed are responsible for nearly 2 million cows in the United States.
Survey respondents rated current detection methods only an average of
5.2 on a 10-point scale for their ability to meet producers' needs. In
addition, veterinarians overwhelming supported the importance of detecting
mastitis at the subclinical level and in early lactation period for
freshened cows. Mastitis, an infection in milk-producing glands in dairy
cows, results in a $2 billion loss in the $25 billion U.S. milk production
industry each year.
"The survey results highlight the need for earlier, quicker and more
accurate detection of mastitis," said Rudy Rodriguez, president and chief
technology officer, Advanced Animal Diagnostics (AAD). "Technology
developed by AAD will allow simple and accurate analysis of differential
inflammatory cell counts in addition to the traditional somatic cell count
to diagnose mastitis."
Introduced in the 1960s, somatic cell count method measures the total
number of leukocytes (white blood cells) in a milk sample. Proprietary AAD
technology allows the detection of three different types of leukocytes --
lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages -- which provides the ability to
detect mastitis at a subclinical level, much earlier than by measuring
somatic cell counts.
Of survey respondents, 94 percent said that differential counts are
more effective than traditional measures of detecting mastitis. In
addition, veterinarians rated the importance of detecting mastitis at a
subclinical level at an 8.7 on a 10-point scale.
"The bottom line is delivering an easy-to-use technology that will help
dairy producers increase profits by detecting and treating mastitis at an
earlier, subclinical level," said Rodriguez. "Producers will be able to
treat infected cows earlier, reducing loss of milk production and risk of
infection to other cows in the herd."
Veterinarians overwhelmingly stated that it is important to detect
mastitis at freshening, rating it at 8.9 on a 10-point scale. Incidence of
mastitis is highest shortly after calving, with 35 percent of all
infections starting in early lactation. Current methods do not allow
practical testing of all cows following calving, however measurement of
differential inflammatory cell counts with new technology from AAD allows
detection of mastitis in colostrum at the quarter level.
Advanced Animal Diagnostics (AAD) was founded in 2001 to commercialize
exclusively licensed proprietary technology for the diagnosis of
valuable-farm-animal diseases, beginning with those that affect milk and
milk products. In addition, the company has also developed intellectual
property internally, which, with the first platform will have many
applications in farms and veterinary medicine. AAD is located at 1912 HWY
54 East, Durham, NC 27713. For more information about Advanced Animal
Diagnostics, please visit advancedanimaldiagnostics.
Advanced Animal Diagnostics (AAD)
advancedanimaldiagnostics