Case Report: Clinical Mastitis Monitoring on a Commercial Arizona Dairy Farm

Field monitoring in a commercial dairy herd in Arizona involving approximately 3,000 cows, with comparison between a treated group and a control group over about three months, showed a reduction in the incidence of clinical mastitis in the analyzed classes (up to −57.4% in primiparous/fresh cows and up to −70.7% in multiparous cows; up to −72.7% in multiparous cows <60 days in milk), using SOP STAR COW.

In summary, a field monitoring study was conducted on a commercial dairy farm in the Glendale area (Arizona, USA), comparing the SOP group with the farm control group during the period 15/07/2014–15/10/2014. In the analyzed classes, a reduction in the incidence of clinical mastitis was observed in the SOP group: −57.4% (primiparous + fresh cows), −70.7% (multiparous cows), and −72.7% (multiparous cows <60 days in milk), with reported statistical significance (P < 0.01).

Clinical mastitis represents one of the main management challenges in dairy farms, with implications for animal welfare, milk quality, and economic sustainability. In this context, the contribution presented at the National Mastitis Council (NMC) Mastitis Research Workers Meeting—a conference with scientific committee review and selection of submitted works—describes field monitoring conducted under real farm conditions aimed at quantifying the association between the use of SOP STAR COW and the incidence of clinical mastitis, with stratification by production category and stage of lactation.

The study was carried out on a commercial dairy farm in the Glendale area (Arizona, USA), involving approximately 3,000 lactating cows, monitored for about three months (15/07/2014–15/10/2014). The percentage of animals with clinical mastitis was compared between the SOP group and the farm control group. Differences between groups were reported as statistically significant (P < 0.01).

Results (clinical mastitis, % of animals during the monitoring period):

• Primiparous + fresh cows: Control 6.80% → SOP 2.90% (−57.4% vs control)

• Multiparous cows: Control 11.60% → SOP 3.40% (−70.7% vs control)

• Multiparous cows <60 days in milk: Control 8.80% → SOP 2.40% (−72.7% vs control)

Climatic context note: the July–October interval falls within the period of highest thermal load for the area, an operationally relevant window since summer heat stress may increase susceptibility and environmental infectious pressure, potentially influencing the incidence of clinical mastitis.

Overall, the reported data indicate a lower incidence of clinical mastitis in the SOP group across the analyzed classes, suggesting a potential practical benefit for herd health management in a real commercial production context.