Pamela Ruegg
David J. Ellis Chair in Antimicrobial Resistance Michigan State University
- East Lansing MI
Pamela Ruegg's research helps dairy farmers maintain healthy cattle and use antimicrobials economically and responsibly.
Media
Biography
Industry Expertise
Areas of Expertise
Education
Michigan State University
D.V.M
Veterinary Medicine
Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, University of California School of Veterinary Medicine
Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine
News
MSU Dairy Farm recognized as one of nation’s best for milk quality, herd health
MSU Today online
2025-01-22
For the second consecutive year, the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center has been recognized as one of the best dairy farms in the nation.
The National Dairy Quality Awards have honored leaders in quality milk production for the past 30 years. The goal of the NDQA program, presented by the National Mastitis Council, is to honor dairy producers from across the United States and Canada who have successfully placed high priority on producing milk of the highest quality.
Research: Rethinking mastitis treatment to improve costs and health
AGDaily online
2023-09-21
New research from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University has found that dairy producers overtreat cows diagnosed with non-severe cases of clinical mastitis, which increases farm costs and contributes to a significant loss of milk due to antibiotic treatment.
Pamela Ruegg, the David J. Ellis Chair in Antimicrobial Resistance and professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, estimates the direct costs of treatment could be reduced by $65.20 per case if the minimum labeled durations are used, which she said provides the same health outcomes as current practices. The cost of mastitis to the U.S. dairy industry is approximately $110 per cow per year — and that dollar amount increases annually.
MSU analyzes economics of mastitis treatment
Brownfield AG News online
2023-10-23
Dr. Pam Ruegg with the College of Veterinary Medicine analyzed how nearly 50,000 dairy cows with non-severe cases of clinical mastitis were treated.
“On the 37 farms, which averaged about 1,300 cows per farm, the cost ranged from about $120 out of pocket per cow per case of mastitis, up to $330—so threefold difference,” she says.
She tells Brownfield the prices across antibiotic products are very comparable, but milk discard accounts for nearly 80 percent of out-of-pocket costs for farmers.
Myth busting mastitis therapy
Wisconsin State Farmer online
2022-06-29
The focus of much of my current research program is to develop evidence-based guidelines that help farmers and their veterinarians understand when antibiotic usage is both cost effective and beneficial to the animals.
Using antibiotics in this manner is called “Antibiotic Stewardship” and adopting principles of antibiotic stewardship on dairy farms can have economic benefits for farmers. Much of our research the last few years has been focused on practical ways to improve antibiotic stewardship on dairy farms and we have performed several studies that together are busting myths about mastitis therapy.
Journal Articles
Impact of training dairy farm personnel on milking routine compliance, udder health, and milk quality
Journal of Dairy ScienceZelmar Rodriguez, Mario Lopez-Benavides, Marianna B. Gentilini, Pamela L. Ruegg
2025-02-01
Among various farm procedures, an appropriate milking routine is crucial for reducing mastitis and enhancing milk safety and quality. However, inadequate compliance with milking routines remains a primary factor contributing to variability of milk quality among herds. Training farm workers is essential for ensuring compliance with milking routines, which directly affects milk quality and udder health.
Economic impact of subclinical mastitis treatment in early lactation using intramammary nisin
Journal of Dairy ScienceZelmar Rodriguez, Victor E. Cabrera, Henk Hogeveen, and Pamela L. Ruegg
2024-11-07
Treatment of subclinical mastitis (SCM) during lactation is rarely recommended due to concerns related to
both antimicrobial usage and the costs associated with
milk discard. Nisin is a naturally produced antimicrobial peptide with a gram-positive spectrum that, when
given to dairy cows, does not require milk discard.
Hot topic: Epidemiological and clinical aspects of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in dairy cattle
JDS CommunicationsZelmar Rodriguez, Catalina Picasso-Risso, Annette O'Connor, Pamela L. Ruegg
2024-10-01
On March 24, 2024, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in dairy cattle. Following this initial detection, the virus was found to have spread to other species, including humans. Since then, at least 192 dairy herds across 13 states have tested positive for the virus.
