A comparative efficacy trial between cefuroxime and cloxacillin as intramammary treatments for clinical mastitis in lactating cows on commercial dairy farms

Abstract AIMS: To assess the efficacy of a commercial intramammary preparation containing cefuroxime as a treatment for clinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows. METHODS: Clinical mastitis cases (n=440) were identified during early to mid lactation on 36 seasonally-calving commercial dairy herds in south-western Victoria, Australia, that ranged in size from 140 to 550 cows. A milk sample for bacterial culture was collected from each affected quarter prior to treatment. Cases were treated using a commercial intramammary antibiotic product containing either 250 mg cefuroxime or 200 mg cloxacillin, according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and the recommended milk with-holding period was observed. The assessment of clinical cure of each case was made by the farm owner/manager at the end of the milk with-holding period. Post-treatment milk samples were taken from clinically cured quarters at each of three consecutive milkings, commencing 7 days after the end of the milk with-holding period and submitt...