An Overview of Mastitis Management and Therapy in Dairy Goats

Owens WE and Ray CH

Abstract

An Overview of Mastitis Management and Therapy in Dairy Goats This study surveys dairy goat practices, and determines the bacterial pathogens responsible for goat mastitis from samples submitted to the Hill Farm Mastitis Laboratory. Goat milk samples (4,490) for analysis were submitted frozen to the laboratory from 67 farms across the southern United States. All organisms were identified using standard microbiological procedures. Staphylococcus species were identified using the API STAPH-TRAC System. Disk diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and susceptible or resistant determinations were performed following the guidelines established by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. A total of 4,490 milk samples resulted in 1,033 bacterial isolates for evaluation.