Mastitis is an important problem for the Santa Inês ewes and is a disease strongly related to the management carried out in the herd. A comparative study was carried out between the proposed method based on drying (treatment) and the traditional method (control). Sixty-two Santa Inês ewes raised in a semi-extensive system were divided in two groups of 31 ewes each: treatment group (G1) and control group (G2). The animals were monitored each week searching for clinical sings of mastitis. In 8.4% of G1 and 41.3% of G2 animals, the udder was warm and hyperemic. The presence of residual milk was lower in G1 (24.3%) compared to those of G2 (74.2%). The proposed treatment for the control of ovine mastitis significantly reduced the frequency of the clinical signs of the disease.
sheep; Santa Inês; lactation; drying off; mastitis