Significance of dry cow therapy to prevent mastitis

Mastitis is considered one of the significant production’s diseases of dairy animals of underdeveloped and developing countries. It is a common problem right after parturition as most of udder infections occur during dry period. Mastitis can be controlled by adopting modern techniques like teat dipping, use of vaccine, Somatic Cell Count at farm at individual level and dry cow therapy. Dry cow therapy is one of the most important and easy technique among the above-mentioned control measures. The aims of dry cow therapy include elimination of current infection and prevention from new infections. Recently, dry cow therapy is being practice via two different techniques i.e. use of intra mammary and systemic administration of antibiotics prior to calving (dry period). Systemic administration of antibiotics at drying off or some weeks before parturition looks to be nominal accompanying treatment for intra-mammary therapy, which may advisable for practice. Some animals are very sensitive and do not allow to touch their tear and udder. Such animals are good candidates for such kind of therapy. Systemic administration of antibiotics during dry period may be better alternate to the intra mammary therapy in animals like buffalo having tight teat sphincter.