To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of a self-formulated traditional Chinese medicine compound on bovine mastitis.

The in vitro antibacterial activity of this compound against the main pathogens causing bovine mastitis was determined, and its clinical efficacy was evaluated.

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the traditional Chinese medicine compound against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae was 31.25 mg/mL, and the MIC against Escherichia coli was 62.5 mg/mL, indicating moderate sensitivity. The results of different drug interventions showed that the high-dose group of the traditional Chinese medicine compound had the highest clinical efficacy and cure rate, reaching 100% and 83.33%, respectively; followed by the antibiotic group, with an efficacy rate of 83.33% and a cure rate of 66.67%; the medium-dose group of the traditional Chinese medicine compound had an efficacy rate of 66.67%; and the low-dose group of the traditional Chinese medicine compound had the worst effect, with an efficacy rate of 50% and a cure rate of 16.67%. After medication, the somatic cell count (SCC) of milk in all groups decreased significantly (P< 0.05) ; among them, the SCC of milk in the medium-dose group, high-dose group, and antibiotic group were all below 200000 cells/mL, namely 19.35±0.32, 11.32±0.44, and 14.52±0.21×104 cells/mL, respectively. Compared with the blank control group, the average daily feed intake of dairy cows in each medication group increased significantly (P<0.05) ; the milk yield of the medium and high dose groups of the traditional Chinese medicine compound increased significantly (P<0.05) , and the milk-to-feed ratio showed an upward trend (P>0.05) .

This traditional Chinese medicine compound can effectively inhibit the proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Escherichia coii, and has a good therapeutic effect on mastitis in dairy cows, which can significantly reduce the somatic cell count of milk; the high-dose compound is more effective than conventional antibiotics, and can also increase the feed intake and milk yield of sick dairy cows, and improve their health status.