Dr. Gichuru: Let’s Control Mastitis

Respected Veterinarian from Murang’a Dr. Simon Gathii Gachomo Gichuru, has implored upon farmers to be watchful over a very deadly disease – mastitis, that denies farmers profits. Mastitis is an inflammation of breast tissue that sometimes involves an infection. The inflammation results in breast pain, swelling, warmth, and redness.

In cattle, mostly dairy cattle, Mastitis most commonly affects lactating cows. In an interview with Taarifa News Monday Morning, Dr. Gichuru took time to discuss in length, more about mastitis.

“In dairy cattle husbandry, we can be right in saying that perhaps the most dreaded disease is mastitis. It affects over 85% of all dairy cattle, resulting in decreased milk yields and consequently an economic loss to the farmer.

“It is a potentially fatal mammary gland infection, that is most common in dairy cattle worldwide. It is a disease that is known to cause the greatest loss to the dairy industry. There is a large cohort of microorganism species that are known to cause mastitis. These range from virus, mycoplasma, fungus and bacteria.”

Dr. Gichuru was however quick to tell farmers that all is not doom, there is some hope in the sense that mastitis can be treated and eventually restore the productivity of the dairy animal.
“With my extensive experience which spans decades, I confidently offer farmers professional service onto how to treat mastitis, using non-syringal means. Through a close working rapport with the farmer wherever he or she is situated, we are able to treat mastitis once and for all.

“I freely give farmers advice onto how to avoid, and treat the mastitis. One of the cheapest ways to avoid mastitis is by administering a teat-dip, one that the farmer is advised to apply as follows:
“Immediately after milking, the valve to the teat, remains open and prone to bacterial infection for about twenty to thirty inutes and this is the time the bacteria invade the udder – causing damage. He adds that prevention is cheap, and he also gives farmers free indicator strips, that are easy to use and indicate whether the cow is infected with mastitis or not. It’s easy: place a few drops of milk onto the strip and carefully observe the colour change – take a photo of the strip and send it to me via Whatsapp and I will diagnose and make the prescription which I can make arrangements to be conveyed whwerever you are.”

Dr. Gichuru advised the farmers to seek a second opinion, when it comes to treatment of their cows.