Zoetis has a new, Food & Drug Administration-approved label claim for SPECTRAMAST LC (ceftiofur hydrochloride) Sterile Suspension for treatment of diagnosed subclinical mastitis infections.

Already approved for the treatment of clinical mastitis infections caused by a broad spectrum of pathogens, SPECTRAMAST LC now can help treat diagnosed subclinical mastitis infections before lactating cows exhibit physical symptoms of the disease, Zoetis said.

Zoetis noted that it is committed to providing flexible, comprehensive on-label solutions for dairy producers.

"This label extension is a continuation of Zoetis' commitment to providing the industry with comprehensive mastitis management solutions," Dr. Mark Kirkpatrick, managing veterinarian with Zoetis Dairy Technical Services, said. "We'll continue to invest in new, practical on-label solutions and support research that advances mastitis management protocols so veterinarians and producers can use them with confidence. This gives producers peace of mind, because they know they are making the best decision for their dairy."

Cows with a high somatic cell count — in excess of 200,000 cells/mL — may indicate a subclinical mastitis infection. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) and streptococci are two major bacteria responsible for subclinical infections. SPECTRAMAST LC is approved for the treatment of diagnosed subclinical mastitis caused by both of these organisms. SPECTRAMAST LC also offers a convenient once-per-day dosing.

Treating mastitis cases at the subclinical level improves the likelihood that infections will resolve before they become clinical, thus minimizing milk production losses and quality premium reductions, Kirkpatrick said. SPECTRAMAST LC has a unique, flexible label that allows for treatment for two days, or up to eight days to achieve a full bacteriological cure.

Monitoring individual cow somatic cell counts through monthly Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) testing is an important tool for tracking early lactation udder health. Kirkpatrick advises monitoring DHI or milk conductivity records to identify cows with somatic cell counts greater than 200,000 cells/mL. He also recommends using the California Mastitis Test (CMT) to evaluate the quarters of cows with high somatic cell counts and collecting milk samples from each infected quarter to help identify the mastitis-causing pathogen.

"Work with your herd veterinarian to establish on-label treatment protocols based on common pathogens on your dairy operation to provide the best chance for a complete bacteriological cure," Kirkpatrick said.