Mastitis costs 3.84kg to weaning, Texel study shows
© Tim Scrivener Genomic studies looking at mastitis resistance in the Texel breed could be saving flocks money next year, with trials showing a mastitis case can cost more than 3kg of growth at the eight-week weight stage. Â
A four-year trial analysing data from 10,185 Texel ewes has found that every score on the 0-8 California Mastitis Test (CMT) (0=best milk, 8 = worst milk quality) was worth 41p/kg on each lamb at weaning.
The trial combined teat placement scoring, udder structure examinations and footrot scoring, with a nasal swab to produce genotypes for mastitis and footrot.
Results from the pioneering project will be part of the Texel Sheep Society’s genomic estimated breeding values (gEBVs) in 2019.
See also: Tips on tackling mastitis in sheep
SRUC researchers found that CMT is a good predictor of SCC (somatic cell count) and that the key traits for sheep mastitis resistance were 14-23% heritable.
Mastitis costs were valued at £6.60 per lamb when comparing lamb growth from ewes that were 0 (best milk) on CMT ratings and 8 (worst milk).
Across the CMT system, this worked out at 41p for every point of CMT score based on a liveweight lamb price of £1.72/kg.
Footrot survey shows cost of £11 a ewe
- Footrot gEBV to be launched in 2019 in Texel breed
- Each case of footrot was worth more than £8 a ewe and a further £3 in lamb productivity losses
- Footrot measured on five-point Australian scale
- Heritability calculated at 18% – low-to-moderate