Longitudinal study of mammary microbiota dynamics and mastitis prevention in Holstein cows by dry-off strategy

This exploratory study preliminarily indicates that a single dose of cefapirin benzathine administered via intramammary infusion before drying-off can effectively reduce the abundance of specific mammary pathogens, including <i>Staphylococcus</i>, <i>Streptococcus</i>, and <i>Corynebacterium</i> (all Gram-positive bacteria). Furthermore, the diversity and richness of the mammary microbiota generally recovered approximately 14 days after calving. These findings provide a temporal framework for the reconstruction of the mammary microbiota in dairy cows following the dry period.