Download New Microbiome Research for Tackling Mastitis on Manitoba Dairy Farms

New Microbiome Research for Tackling Mastitis on Manitoba Dairy Farms
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Hooman Derakhshani , Christine Rawluk , Kees Plaizier , Ehsan Khafipour
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Department of Animal Science, National Centre for Livestock and the Environment, Department of Medical Microbiology and
Infectious Diseases
Mastitis is the most common disease of dairy cows, usually defined as the inflammation of mammary glands following
infection with pathogenic microorganisms. Although tremendous research efforts have been devoted to development of
treatment strategies and control programs, mastitis still remains the most prevalent and costly disease for dairy farmers.
It is estimated that one out of five cows experiences clinical signs of mastitis during each lactation. Mastitis-related
losses to the Canadian dairy industry are estimated to exceed $400 million annually. Considering the high incidence rate
of the sub-clinical type of the disease, which can easily go unnoticed, the real economic impacts can be far more
devastating.
What are the causes?
Mastitis is a complex disease determined by several genetic and environmental factors. Breed, parity, lactation stage,
milk yield and udder characteristics can influence susceptibility to mastitis. Management practices associated with drycow treatment, diet, milking and bedding can also trigger onset of the disease. Contagious mastitis is mainly spread from
infected udders to uninfected ones through contaminated milking machines, and by milkers’ hands and towels.
Environmental mastitis is associated with opportunistic groups of bacteria found mainly in contaminated manure,
bedding, soil and water and are transferred to the udder during the milking process or shortly thereafter.
New study focuses on reducing mastitis in Manitoba dairy herds
Dr. Ehsan Khafipour, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science at the University of Manitoba, and PhD student
Hooman Derakhshani, have recently started a study with the goal of improving mastitis control programs on Manitoba
dairy farms through improved diagnosis and management strategies. Results and recommendations will be shared with
producers through fact sheets.
By studying the microbial communities of mammary glands and bedding materials over
an 8-month period on several farms, they aim to determine the primary sources of
infection leading to mastitis on these farms, and to identify management practices to
help control the disease at both the clinical and sub-clinical stages.
They are using state of the art molecular techniques to identify the bacterial fingerprints
associated with mastitis-positive cows. Once identified, the next step is to assess
whether these bacterial fingerprints can be used as a tool for predicting and preventing
mastitis in dairy herds.
“We will also evaluate the microbial diversity of different bedding systems and how this
is related to udder health and incidences of mastitis,” said Khafipour. “By knowing the
Henry Holtmann taking quarter milk
pathways of mastitis infection, we can identify bedding management programs for samples for the study.
improved milk quality and udder health.”
(Source: H. Derakhshani)
Bedding management has implications for cow health, as well as for the environment and economics. Bacterial
populations found on teat ends closely reflect those found in bedding materials. High bacterial populations in bedding
material result in high bacteria counts on teat ends, which has been correlated to increased SCC as well as higher
incidence rates of clinical mastitis. A comprehensive investigation on the microbial profile of different bedding systems
and their correlation to udder health and incidence rates of mastitis is being performed in order to provide producers
with "good bedding management practices" that can improve herd health.
Identification, treatment and prevention of mastitis
Traditional bacterial culture techniques are the gold standard in laboratory identification of mastitis-causing bacteria
and for choosing the proper antibiotics for treatment. However, more than 90% of the bacteria in the environment
cannot be detected by this technique. Consequently, prescribing targeted antibiotic treatments is a challenge, and has
led to emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are difficult, or in certain cases impossible, to treat.
Society is increasingly concerned about the growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the potential for human
consumption of antibiotic residues. Antibiotic resistance is the main reason why a high percentage of cows suffer from
intra-mammary infections at late pregnancy or early lactation, despite dry-cow therapy with antibiotics.
In this new research, Khafipour and his team at Gut Microbiome Laboratory will apply high throughput next generation
DNA sequencing to screen the microbial diversity of the milk and udder at different stages
of pregnancy and milking to unravel the composition of the uncultivable majority – the
remaining 90% – of bacteria and their potential role in pathogenesis of mastitis.
By examining the microbial diversity before and after the dry-off period, they can evaluate
the efficacy of the farms’ dry-cow therapy strategies, identify resistant bacteria and
improve treatment strategies. Another aim of the study is early prediction of mastitis using
changes in microbial community dynamics as an indicator.
The team is also interested in identifying “beneficial bacteria” in these communities to see
if they can be used as probiotics to reduce the incidence of mastitis. “A strong defense is
still the best strategy for keeping mastitis under control,” notes Khafipour.
The National Mastitis Council recommends keeping udders as clean as possible, avoiding
contamination of milking machines, dipping teats pre- and post-milking, and preventing
cows from lying down after milking as the main strategies for reducing the risk of intramammary infections.
Hooman processing quarter milk
samples for extraction of
genomic DNA.
(Source: J. Donogh)
This project is led and financially supported by Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, with matching funding from GFII ARDI. Contact Dr. Ehsan
Khafipour ([email protected]) to learn more.
Keeping cattle on pasture longer in the fall using stockpiled grazing is the goal of a collaborative project between the U
of M, U of SK, WBDC and MAFRD. Currently the research team is evaluating a range of grasses, legumes and cereal crops
at sites in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The best performers will be put to the test in a cattle grazing study in 2016. The
U of M team includes Emma McGeough, Kim Ominski, Karin Wittenberg, Doug Cattani and Derek Brewin.
View the article
New infrastructure funding in support of this research, as well as other agricultural research initiatives at the U of M was
recently announced by the federal and provincial governments.
Over 20 experts present their vision of how a changing climate might shape future Prairie
agricultural systems in a Green Paper prepared for the Alberta Institute of Agrologists. Crop
selection, pollinating insects, weeds, pathogens, transport, insurance, trade agreements, beef
cattle, the food on our plate are some of the topics explored. Read more
The following seminars are now available for viewing:
 The role of engineering in dealing with airborne transmission of animal diseases
Dr. Qiang Zhang, Biosystems Engineering
 Food sovereignty: A powerful new vision for agriculture and food Dr. Annette Desmarais, Canada Research
Chair in Human Rights, Social Justice and Food Sovereignty
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts
 Milked and feathered: The regressive welfare effects of Canada's supply management regime
Dr. Ryan Cardwell, Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics
Additional appointments:
Dr. Jared Carlberg, Associate Dean, Academic and Dr. Martin Scanlon, Associate Dean, Research. Read the release
Animal scientists Laurie Connor and Martin Nyachoti lead the Manitoba components of three multi-institutional
Swine Innovation Porc projects:
 Sow group housing design for optimal sow welfare: Optimizing flooring and social management - Laurie Connor,
Qiang Zhang and Derek Brewin
 Feeding programs for growing-finishing pigs to enhance global competitiveness - Martin Nyachoti
 Piglet management strategies for optimum performance - Martin Nyachoti
Completed swine research:
 Successful conversion to sow group housing (L. Connor, Q. Zhang, G. Johnson)
 Using processed hog manure separation products (M. Tenuta)
 Canola seedling toxicity with seed-placed struvite and MAP (F. Zvomuya & N. Cicek)
 EPI for improving barn air quality and preventing airborne transmission of PRRS virus (Q. Zhang)
Prairie Livestock Expo
UofM scientists shared their latest pork, dairy, beef and poultry research at Prairie Livestock Expo, December 10, 2014.
Contact Christine Rawluk to learn more.