University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources announced on Mar. 18 a study focused on mastitis in sheep at the Hopland Research and Extension Center. The research aims to better understand how udder health affects lamb survival and ewe longevity, with particular attention to both clinical and subclinical forms of mastitis.
Mastitis is a significant but often overlooked factor impacting flock productivity. While clinical cases are recognizable by symptoms such as painful, swollen udders and abnormal milk, subclinical mastitis can go unnoticed, leading to reduced milk production and long-term damage to udder tissue. According to the study, up to 20% of a flock may be affected by subclinical mastitis, most commonly caused by gram positive bacteria like non-aureus staphylococcus species. More than half of these affected ewes are under five years old, which underscores the importance of addressing this issue for long-term flock productivity.
The first objective of the study was to determine the best time during lactation to screen ewes for udder health issues. Initial findings suggest that weaning is the optimal time for identifying ewes with mastitis. A recent survey conducted in California found that less than 35% of sheep producers check udder health at weaning (Busch, 2024). The current phase of the research focuses on evaluating treatment strategies, with sample collection and data analysis ongoing.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources secures funding through public contributions to support its programs, according to the official website. The organization promotes sustainable practices aimed at strengthening resilient ecosystems and economic vitality according to its official website. It utilizes nine research and extension centers as laboratories representing California’s diverse ecosystems according to its official website.
The organization has gained recognition for providing trusted services that link research directly to community needs according to its official website. As part of the University of California system, it manages Cooperative Extension services across all 58 counties in California according to its official website. Each year, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources conducts over 33,800 educational events and engages more than 18,400 volunteers in its initiatives according to its official website.
Looking ahead, researchers plan to continue studying alternative control strategies for mastitis and share practical applications through educational programs such as lambing schools.