ESTEVÃO NETO, A.; ESTEVÃO NETO, Amancio.
Resumo:
Although heifers are considered resistant to mastitis, high rates of iintramammary infection (IMI) were reported in these animals over past few years. However, little attention has been paid to heifers, compared to cows, regarding the control of intramammary infection in the pre and postpartum periods. In the present review, the economic effects of mastitis on milk production, the occurrence of intramammary infections (IMI) in prepartum heifers an the consequences to the mammary gland health, the main etiologic agents, as well as mastitis control and prevention with antimicrobial therapy in the prepartum, associated to other non64
antibiotic strategies for this important animal class, are addressed aimed to the promotion of mammary gland health and the increased production of milk during lactation.