A recent development among dry cow therapies in
the EU has been the introduction of the broad-spectrum
fourth-generation cephalosporin, cefquinome (Cephaguard
Dry Cow, Virbac Ltd., Bury St. Edmunds,
UK). This product potentially offers persistent, broadspectrum
activity against both gram-positive and
gram-negative pathogens throughout the dry period,
affording the opportunity to combine optimal cure
rates with adequate control of new IMI through to the
transition period. The aim of the research outlined in
this paper was to investigate the efficacy of this novel
product in the control of IMI in the dry period, in low
bulk milk SCC herds, while concurrently investigating
the importance of infections acquired in the early dry
and transition periods and their effect on the incidence
of clinical mastitis in the first 100 d of the subsequent
lactation.