Aetiology of intramammary infection and its effect on milk composition in goat flocks.

Although there has been little study of the origin of intramammary infection (IMI) in goats, a common view is that most bacterial infection in goats occurs during milking. In the present study, the dynamics of occurrence of udder infection during and between lactations in three Anglo-Nubian goat farms in Israel was monitored. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the predominant bacteria in the IMIs. We found that about 15% of the yearling does were already infected with bacteria when they joined the flock, whereas about 8% of the goats that dried-off returned with new IMIs. Moreover, virtually none of the goats acquired infection during lactation. Thus, our study showed that the aetiology of IMI in goats is very similar to that in dairy cows. A preventive treatment during the dry period should, therefore, be considered as an effective means of reducing the current rate of bacterial infections in goats.