Investigation of efficacy of mastitis vaccine in dairy cows

This study, conducted on dairy cows, aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the mastitis vaccine. Somatic cell count (SCC) values were examined on milk samples taken from vaccinated cows for 100 days, starting from the 20th postpartum day. In the research, 1-3 days with a duration of 200 days and above (range 200-220 days). 80 Holstein cows in lactation period were used. California Mastitis Test (CMT) was performed at certain time intervals and microbiological analysis was performed on milk samples taken from the udder quarters that gave CMT positive results. According to the analysis results, two different groups were created in the study: vaccine (n = 40) and control group (n = 40). A commercial mastitis vaccine (Startvac® , Spain) was applied to the animals included in the vaccine group. The vaccination procedure was carried out in accordance with the vaccine package insert. No application was made to the control group. Milk samples were taken from animals in the vaccine and control groups every 10 days starting from the 20th day after birth and the number of somatic cells was examined. Separate statistical analyzes were performed for each udder lobe. According to the analysis; No statistically significant difference was found in the SHS values for the right front udder, right rear udder, left front udder and left rear udder compared to the control group (P>0.05). It has been concluded that mastitis vaccine application alone is insufficient to prevent udder infections in enterprises where the necessary prophylaxis practices are not carried out and thus cannot effectively reduce SCC. These results emphasize that factors such as environmental conditions, parlor conditions and prophylactic measures should be considered together with factors such as environmental conditions, parlor conditions and prophylactic measures when evaluating the effectiveness of the vaccine.