The Economic Evaluation of Mastitis Control Strategies in Holstein-Friesian Dairy Herds

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In order to capture the complexity and dynamics of bovine mastitis, which has multiple effects, such as milk losses, increased risk of culling, or a higher likelihood of reproductive failure, a simulation model was developed. The economic evaluation of the mastitis control was performed considering different interventions combining a basic control plan with either segregation or culling of chronically infected cows. Changes in transmission probability, milk price, and strategies efficacy were evaluated. Several economic parameters in the model could be adjusted to represent farm-specific situations. This is a flexible tool that may support the decision-making of producers and veterinarians. ABSTRACT: The economic evaluation of mastitis control is challenging. The objective of this study was to perform the economic evaluation of mastitis control, under different intervention scenarios, quantifying the total cost of mastitis caused by S. aureus in Holstein cows in Argentina. A model was set for a dairy herd of Holstein cows endemically infected with S. aureus. A basic mastitis control plan including proper milking procedures, milking machine test, dry cow therapy, and treatment for clinical mastitis, was compared against other more complex and costly interventions, such as segregation and culling of chronically infected cows. Sensitivity analysis was performed by modifying the intramammary infection transition probabilities, economic parameters, and efficacy of treatment strategies. The basic mastitis control plan showed a median total cost of USD88.6/cow per year, which was close to the infected cows culling scenarios outputs. However, the segregation scenario was the most efficient, in which the total cost was reduced by about 50%. Such cost was more sensitive to probabilities and efficacy than the economic parameters. The model is flexible and can be customized by producers and veterinarians according to different control and herd settings.