The effect of experimentally induced subclinical mastitis on the milk yield of dairy ewes

Abstract

In each of the two experiments, subclinical mastitis was induced by inoculating both mammary glands of Karagouniko and of Chios-cross ewes with a Staphylococcus epidermidis. After inoculation, the somatic cell counts of the milk of the inoculated ewes increased (p < 0.01); their milk yield decreased up to 55% (p < 0.01). It is concluded that subclinical mastitis is of particular financial significance in dairy flocks. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.