On 21st September last, HIPRA won second prize in the category of practical oral presentations at the XLIIth National Congress and XVIIIth International Congress of the SEOC (Spanish Sheep and Goat Rearing Society), held from 20th to 22nd September in Salamanca.

The oral presentation was given by Alba Sánchez, laboratory technician at HIPRA, and was entitled “Use of dehydrated milk samples and PCR to improve the diagnosis of mastitis caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae”, a technique developed by HIPRA’s own Diagnos service that involves the use of FTA cards for greater security when the samples are sent to its laboratories.

Another presentation, given by Ana Dueñas, a technician at COVAP, also won the prize for best oral presentation within the Milk Quality group. Entitled “Trends in bulk tank somatic cell counts and milk production of a Lacaune sheep farmer after a year of the COVAP quality package”, the study showed the increase in the farmer’s revenue after a year of applying the necessary measures to reduce somatic cell counts, including vaccination with VIMCO®.

There was an increase of 77.89€ per sheep/year, in terms of increased milk production alone (72.04€) and in the increase in the quality premium milk price (5.85€).

Jesús Ángel Tamayo presented a poster with the title “Trends in bulk tank somatic cell counts following vaccination for the prevention of subclinical mastitis caused by staphylococci in a flock of Assaf sheep.” This study showed how vaccination of all the sheep with VIMCO® helps to control subclinical mastitis and causes a reduction in the bulk tank somatic cell counts, which indicates an improvement in the animals’ udder health. In this case, there was a reduction of 35% (P<0.001), which was significant in every month apart from the two months during which drying-off is concentrated.

Thanks to the studies carried out by the company’s collaborators, both internal and external, HIPRA once more demonstrates its continued support for prevention and milk quality in small ruminants in Spain.