BOVINE MASTITIS TREATMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable system for treating bovine mastitis, the system comprising: a device housing; at least one light source disposed in the device housing, the at least one light source being configured to provide light with at least one wavelength in a range from 700 nm to 1100 nm, and at least one light output optically coupled to the at least one light source such that the system provides output light at at least one light output from at least one light source, the output light at the at least one light output having an average power of at least 0.2 W.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TREATING BOVINE MASTITIS TECHNICAL AREA The present invention relates to a method for reducing the number of pathogenic microorganisms in an udder of a bovine animal using a phototherapy apparatus and an analgesic composition for use in such a method. The invention also relates to a method for setting output parameters of a phototherapy apparatus for treating bovine mastitis. The invention also relates to a device for treating bovine mastitis. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bovine mastitis, a persistent inflammatory reaction in the udder tissue caused by infectious microorganisms, is one of the most common diseases of dairy cattle in the United States and worldwide, placing an economic burden on farmers’ need to effectively control the disease. For example, in Denmark, there are approximately 567,000 dairy cattle, and approximately 16-21% of all cows have mastitis at any given time. On average, the cost of treatment and loss of income from milk production exceeds EUR 500 per cow. The cow's udder is divided into four separate mammary glands, each with its own outlet. The milk is produced in small alveolar cells, and through a system of milk ducts the milk is directed to the udder and teat cisterns. Approximately 400-500 liters of blood must pass through the alveoli in the udder tissue to produce 1 liter of milk. The blood flow also ensures that the nutrients necessary for milk production are supplied. Microorganisms, such as bacteria (e.g. streptococci, staphylococci or coliform bacteria) or e.g. yeast, can enter the teat canal of the udder and multiply in the milk-producing tissue, causing mastitis in the udder. The bacteria can originate from the cow's own skin and mucous membranes or can be environmental bacteria found in e.g. stalls, fields or milking machines. Due to the division of the udder, a cow can have one infected mammary gland and three healthy glands. Milk from cows suffering from mastitis typically has an elevated somatic cell count, but the disease can also be identified by abnormalities in the udder, such as swelling, warmth, redness, hardness or pain. The cow may also show other signs of infection, such as fever, loss of appetite or no or low milk production. The primary treatment for mastitis is the use of antibiotics, but due to the increase in resistant microorganisms, treatment costs and time, the importance of reducing antibiotic use in agriculture is an important area of ​​focus. From a customer perspective, customers also expect better animal welfare and less antibiotic use in the products (e.g. dairy milk, meat, etc.) they consume. The typical duration of antibiotic treatment is 3-5 days, during which the cow's milk cannot be used. In addition, the milk from the affected cow must be discarded for approximately 7-11 days after the start of the antibiotic course.Since cows produce approximately 35-45 liters of milk per day, the antibiotic treatment and the subsequent elimination period of antibiotics from a cattle's system results in a loss and waste of approximately 550-1000 liters of milk. Therefore, there is a need for new effective treatments that avoid sole reliance on antibiotics, but at the same time deliver an effective, painless solution with a faster healing time than currently available treatments. PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of embodiments of the invention to provide a novel method for reducing the number of pathogenic microorganisms in the udder of a bovine animal without using traditional antibiotic treatments, or at least to improve the recovery time of the bovine animal from an infection and / or inflammation by reducing the microorganisms in a rapid and safe manner that does not negatively affect the bovine animal's milk production. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found by the present inventor(s) that the number of pathogenic microorganisms can be effectively reduced or eliminated on the udder of a bovine animal by means of a light treatment apparatus. Thus, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for reducing the number of pathogenic microorganisms in an udder of a bovine animal using a light treatment apparatus, the method comprising a) determining the presence or degree of infection and / or inflammation by inspecting or sampling a bovine animal and / or inspecting a milk sample from a bovine animal by quantitatively or qualitatively determining the infection and / or inflammation using a test or marker, c) determining at least one parameter setting for the light treatment apparatus, the at least one parameter setting comprising a frequency of light pulses, an amount of energy in each light pulse, an amount of total energy transmitted by the light treatment apparatus, treatment time, the wavelength of the light emitted by the light treatment apparatus, the average power level of the light treatment apparatus,the number of locations on the udder for light exposure or any combination thereof, and d) irradiating one or more locations on the udder by means of a light treatment device operating in accordance with the at least one particular parameter setting. As an example, the at least one parameter setting includes a frequency of light pulses, an amount of energy in each light pulse, an amount of total energy emitted by the light treatment device, treatment time, the wavelength of light emitted by the light treatment device, average power level of the light treatment device, and the number of locations on the udder for light exposure., In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for setting output parameters of a laser treatment apparatus for treating bovine mastitis, the method comprising a) providing data derived from a bovine animal to be treated, the data being indicative of the presence or degree of infection and / or inflammation and selected from inspection data from the bovine animal and / or inspection data from a milk sample from the bovine animal, and the inspection data constituting a quantitative or qualitative indication of the infection obtained by means of a test or marker, b) said data comprising 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of: the genus and / or species of observed infectious microorganisms, antibiotic resistance exhibited by observed microorganisms, location(s) of the infection, severity of the infection and extent of the infection, c) determining, based on a combined score derived from the data in b), at least one parameter setting for the laser treatment apparatus,wherein the at least one parameter setting comprises a frequency of laser light pulses, an amount of energy in each pulse of the laser light, an amount of total energy emitted by the laser treatment apparatus, treatment time, the wavelength of the laser light from the laser, the intensity of the laser light treatment, and the number of locations on the udder to which the laser light is exposed., In a third aspect, the invention relates to an analgesic composition for use in a method of treating bovine mastitis, the method comprising administering the analgesic composition to a bovine animal and subsequently carrying out the method according to the first aspect. In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to an analgesic cream or ointment for use in a method of treating bovine mastitis, the method comprising applying the analgesic cream or ointment to a cow's udder and subsequently carrying out the method according to the first aspect. In a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a device for treating bovine mastitis, comprising a laser treatment apparatus and a) a first control means for determining or receiving an indication of the presence or degree of infection and / or inflammation by inspecting or sampling a bovine animal and / or inspecting a milk sample from the bovine animal by quantitatively or qualitatively determining the infection by means of a test or marker, b) a second control means for determining or receiving an indication of the presence of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the genus or species of infectious microorganism, antibiotic resistance exhibited by the microorganism, the location of the infection, the severity of the infection and the extent of the infection, c) a third control means that, based on the output of the first and second control means, determines at least one parameter setting for the laser treatment apparatus, wherein the at least one parameter setting comprises a frequency of laser light pulses,an amount of energy in each pulse of the laser light, an amount of total energy emitted by the laser treatment apparatus, treatment time, wavelength of laser light emitted by the laser and the intensity of the laser light treatment, and the number of locations on the udder for exposure to laser light and d) a fourth control means for controlling the laser treatment apparatus to irradiate one or more locations on the udder by means of a laser treatment apparatus operating in accordance with the at least one specific parameter setting., In a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a system, preferably a portable system, for treating bovine mastitis, the system comprising: a device housing; at least one light source disposed in the device housing, the at least one light source being configured to provide light having at least one wavelength in a range from 700 nm to 1100 nm, and at least one light output optically coupled to the at least one light source such that the system provides output light at at least one light output from at least one light source, the output light at the at least one light output having an average power of at least 0.2 W. In general, it has been observed that a certain minimum average power in a certain wavelength range can effectively treat or at least alleviate many different types of infections, bacteria and diseases in cattle. Although treatment can be further customized and optimized by determining the degree or type of infection and / or inflammation by inspection or sampling, at least some degree of treatment can often be effectively provided without such determination. Preferably, the average power of the output light is an average power over time, for example an average power measured over a duration of 1 second, 2 seconds, 5 seconds or 10 seconds. In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one light outlet comprises an aperture, wherein the aperture has a diameter in a range from 1.5 cm to 10 cm, for example from 2 cm to 9 cm, for example from 2.5 cm to 8 cm, such as from 3.0 cm to 7 cm; and / or wherein the aperture has an area in a range from 1.5 cm2 to 80 cm2, for example from 3 cm2 to 65 cm2, for example from 5 cm2 to 50 cm2, such as from 7 cm2 to 40 cm2. Large areas of the udder may be infected. A correspondingly large aperture can therefore be used to effectively treat such large areas. In one embodiment of the invention, the housing includes a power source, such as a battery pack, that supplies power to the portable system. The power source may, for example, supply at least one light source as well as any electrical components, such as a processing unit, a user interface, a proximity sensor, etc. In an embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises a device handle flexibly attached to the device housing, with at least one light outlet disposed in the device handle. Such an appliance handle allows a user to adjust at least one light output independently of the appliance housing within the limitations set, for example, by a cable joint between the appliance handle and the appliance housing. In one embodiment of the invention, the system comprises a cable assembly, wherein the handle of the device is flexibly attached to the housing of the device via the cable assembly, wherein the cable assembly comprises a fiber optic cable assembly optically connecting the at least one light source to the at least one light output. In one embodiment of the invention, the handle of the device comprises an optical lens unit configured to optically spatially align the output light with the aperture. In one embodiment of the invention, the optical lens assembly decouples the output light from the fiber optic cable assembly. In one embodiment of the invention, the optical lens unit delivers the output light as a collimated beam. In one embodiment of the invention, the system comprises a proximity sensor configured to detect an object, such as an udder, in the vicinity of at least one light output, the proximity sensor being communicatively coupled to at least one light source, the at least one light source requiring the proximity sensor to detect the object to provide the output light. Installing a proximity sensor at the light output can reduce the risk of unintentional emission of light from the system. In one embodiment of the invention, the system comprises a trigger switch that can be switched between an activated position and a deactivated position by a user of the system, wherein the trigger switch is communicatively coupled to at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source requires the trigger switch to be in the activated position to provide the output light. In one embodiment of the invention, the trigger switch is located on the handle of the device. In one embodiment of the invention, the cable assembly comprises an electrical cable assembly that communicatively connects any one of the proximity sensor and the trigger switch to at least one light source. A trigger switch, preferably on the handle of the device, allows the user to effectively deliver light output to specific target areas on the udder. Power can be saved by only providing light output when appropriate. In an embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises a user interface, where the average power can be configured via the user interface. In one embodiment of the invention, the user interface is located on the housing of the device. In an embodiment of the invention, the average power can be configured in a range from at least 0.2 W to at least 100 W, for example in a range from at least 0.2 W to at most 100 W, for example in a range from at least 0.3 W to at most 50 W, for example in a range from 0.4 W to at most 20 W, for example in a range from 0.5 W to at most 10 W, such as in a range from 0.5 W to at most 5 W. In one embodiment of the invention, the average power is at least 0.3 W, for example at least 0.5 W, for example at least 0.7 W, such as at least 1.0 W. Although 0.2 W may be enough, experience and measurements generally show that more power provides more effective treatment. In one embodiment of the invention, the output light has a spatial peak power density of at most 5 W / cm2, where the spatial peak power density is measured as a spatial average power density in a circular region with an area in a range from 1 mm2 to 3 cm2, for example from 2 mm2 to 2.5 cm2, for example from 3 mm2 to 2.0 cm2, for example from 4 mm2 to 1.5 cm2, such as from 5 mm2 to 1.0 cm2. Preferably, the spatial peak power density of the output light is an average power density over time, for example an average power density measured over a duration of 1 second, 2 seconds, 5 seconds or 10 seconds. Preferably, the spatial peak power density is measured at the spatial peak of the output light, for example at the center of a Gaussian beam. More generally, the spatial peak power density can be measured at the part of the output light that gives the largest value of the spatial peak power density (for example in the case of an irregular beam). In one embodiment of the invention, the spatial peak power density is at most 4 W / cm2, for example at most 3 W / cm2, for example at most 2 W / cm2, for example at most 1.5 W / cm2, such as at most 1.0 W / cm2. By having a specific upper limit for the maximum power density (or peak intensity), the system avoids damage to the udder, which can otherwise occur if the intensity is too high. In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one wavelength is in a range from 750 nm to 1050 nm, for example from 800 nm to 1000 nm, such as from 800 nm to 950 nm. In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one light source comprises at least one pulsed light source. In one embodiment of the invention, light from the pulsed light source in the output light has an average power in a range from 10 mW to 500 mW, for example from 20 mW to 400 mW, for example from 30 mW to 300 mW, such as from 50 mW to 200 mW. In one embodiment of the invention, light from the pulsed light source in the output light has a wavelength in a range from 750 nm to 1050 nm, for example from 800 nm to 1000 nm, for example from 850 nm to 950 nm, such as 905 nm. In one embodiment of the invention, light from the pulsed light source in the output light has a pulse length in a range from 10 ns to 1000 ns, for example from 20 ns to 800 ns, for example from 30 ns to 600 ns, for example from 40 ns to 500 ns, for example from 50 ns to 400 ns, for example from 60 ns to 300 ns, for example from 70 ns to 200 ns, such as 100 ns. In one embodiment of the invention, light from the pulsed light source in the output light has a pulse frequency in a range from 1 kHz to 30 kHz, for example from 2 kHz to 25 kHz, for example from 3 kHz to 20 kHz, for example from 5 kHz to 15 kHz. In one embodiment of the invention, light from the pulsed light source in the output light has a pulse peak power in a range from 10 W to 300 W, for example from 20 W to 250 W, for example from 30 W to 200 W, for example from 50 W to 150 W, such as 100 W. In one embodiment of the invention, light from the pulsed light source in the output light has a pulse energy in a range from 1 µJ to 100 µJ, for example in a range from 2 µJ to 80 µJ, for example in a range from 3 µJ to 60 µJ, for example in a range from 4 µJ to 50 µJ, for example in a range from 5 µJ to 40 µJ, for example in a range from 6 µJ to 30 µJ, such as in a range from 8 µJ to 20 µJ, such as 10 µJ. In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one light source comprises a continuous light source, such as a continuous wave laser or a light-emitting diode device, wherein the continuous light source has a duty cycle of at least 10%, for example at least 30%, for example at least 50%, such as 100%. In one embodiment of the invention, light from the continuous light source in the output light has an average power in a range from 0.2 W to 10 W, for example from 0.3 W to 8 W, for example from 0.4 W to 6 W, for example from 0.5 W to 4 W. In one embodiment of the invention, light from the continuous light source in the output light has a wavelength in a range from 700 nm to 1050 nm, for example from 720 nm to 1000 nm, for example from 740 nm to 950 nm, for example from 760 nm to 850 nm, such as 808 nm. Experience and measurements indicate that infrared light as exemplified above generally provides effective treatment. Measurements indicate that a pulsed laser, such as a pulsed laser with a wavelength of 905 nm and a pulse length of 100 ns and an average power in the range of 20 mW to 200 mW, appears to provide effective treatment. Furthermore, measurements show that a continuous light source with a wavelength of 808 nm and an output power in the range of 0.5 W to 5 W appears to provide effective treatment. In particular, the combination of these light sources provides effective treatment. In a seventh aspect, the invention relates to a composition of light components for use in treating bovine mastitis, the composition comprising: at least one light component with at least one wavelength in the range from 700 nm to 1100 nm, the composition having an average power of at least 0.2 W. In one embodiment of the invention, the average power is at least 0.3 W, for example at least 0.5 W, for example at least 0.7 W, such as at least 1.0 W. In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one light component has a spatial peak power density of at most 5 W / cm2, where the spatial peak power density is measured as a spatial average power density in a circular region with an area in a range from 1 mm2 to 3 cm2, for example from 2 mm2 to 2.5 cm2, for example from 3 mm2 to 2.0 cm2, for example from 4 mm2 to 1.5 cm2, such as from 5 mm2 to 1.0 cm2. In one embodiment of the invention, the spatial peak power density is at most 4 W / cm2, for example at most 3 W / cm2, for example at most 2 W / cm2, for example at most 1.5 W / cm2, such as at most 1.0 W / cm2. In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one light component comprises at least one pulsed light component. In one embodiment of the invention, the pulsed light component has an average power in a range from 10 mW to 500 mW, for example from 20 mW to 400 mW, for example from 30 mW to 300 mW, such as from 50 mW to 200 mW. In one embodiment of the invention, the pulsed light component has a wavelength in a range from 750 nm to 1050 nm, for example from 800 nm to 1000 nm, for example from 850 nm to 950 nm, such as 905 nm. In one embodiment of the invention, the light from the pulsed light component has a pulse length in a range from 10 ns to 1000 ns, for example from 20 ns to 800 ns, for example from 30 ns to 600 ns, for example from 40 ns to 500 ns, for example from 50 ns to 400 ns, for example from 60 ns to 300 ns, for example from 70 ns to 200 ns, such as 100 ns. In one embodiment of the invention, the light from the pulsed light component has a pulse frequency in a range from 1 kHz to 30 kHz, for example from 2 kHz to 25 kHz, for example from 3 kHz to 20 kHz, for example from 5 kHz to 15 kHz. In one embodiment of the invention, the light from the pulsed light component has a pulse peak power in a range from 10 W to 300 W, for example from 20 W to 250 W, for example from 30 W to 200 W, for example from 50 W to 150 W, such as 100 W. In one embodiment of the invention, the light from the pulsed light component has a pulse energy in a range from 1 µJ to 100 µJ, for example in a range from 2 µJ to 80 µJ, for example in a range from 3 µJ to 60 µJ, for example in a range from 4 µJ to 50 µJ, for example in a range from 5 µJ to 40 µJ, for example in a range from 6 µJ to 30 µJ, such as in a range from 8 µJ to 20 µJ, such as 10 µJ. In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one light component comprises a continuous light component, wherein the continuous light component has a duty cycle of at least 10%, for example at least 30%, for example at least 50%, such as 100%. In one embodiment of the invention, the light from the continuous light component has an average power in a range from 0.2 W to 10 W, for example from 0.3 W to 8 W, for example from 0.4 W to 6 W, for example from 0.5 W to 4 W. In one embodiment of the invention, light from the continuous light component has a wavelength in a range from 700 nm to 1050 nm, for example from 720 nm to 1000 nm, for example from 740 nm to 950 nm, for example from 760 nm to 850 nm, such as 808 nm. In an eighth aspect, the invention relates to a method for treating bovine mastitis, the method comprising: providing a system according to the sixth aspect; and illuminating an udder of a bovine animal, such as a cow, with a light composition provided as the output light of the system. In an embodiment of the invention, said composition is the light composition according to the seventh aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates the use of a portable system for treating bovine mastitis according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a portable system according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions The term 'reduction of the number of pathogenic microorganisms' refers to reducing the number of bacterial or fungal pathogens, i.e. harmful bacteria that can lead to infection, or eliminating the colonizing pathogens. The term 'light therapy device' refers to a device or device that emits light. An example of a light treatment device is a laser treatment device. The term 'laser treatment apparatus' refers to an apparatus or device that emits light through an optical amplification process based on stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The term 'frequency of laser light pulses' refers to the number of occurrences of a repeating light pulse per unit of time. The term 'energy amount in each pulse of laser light' refers to the amount of energy transferred by each pulse of laser light. The term 'treatment time' refers to the duration of the treatment with the laser treatment device. The treatment time may refer to the total duration of a treatment, for example, a treatment may be a total of 5 minutes at specific parameter settings of the laser treatment device. The treatment time, e.g. a treatment time of 30 seconds, may be further repeated at least 5 times and up to approximately 50 times. Therefore, a treatment of e.g. 30 seconds duration may be repeated e.g. 5 times during a single treatment course to achieve an effective treatment. The term 'wavelength of laser light emitted by the laser treatment apparatus' refers to the distance over which the periodic waveform repeats. The term 'laser treatment device power level' refers to a power level, such as 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the maximum power level of the laser treatment device, provided that the maximum power is about 200-1500 mW, such as 200-500 mW, even more preferably about 500 mW power or about 1200 mW. The term 'visual inspection' refers to the visual inspection of a bovine animal or a bovine udder. This may also refer to a suitable apparatus for performing visual inspections, such as a camera and related computer-implemented tools for inspecting the cow for the presence of infection. The term 'somatosensory inspection' may refer to the inspection of a bovine animal or a bovine udder using haptic perception, thermoperception, or by observing or recording the cow's pain levels. The somatosensory inspection may also refer to a suitable apparatus for performing the somatosensory inspection, such as a device configured to measure a cow's temperature. The term ‘thermal inspection’ can specifically refer to the measurement of a cattle’s local or global temperature. Local temperature refers to the temperature of a specific part of a cattle, such as the udder. Global temperature for a cattle refers to the overall temperature of the cattle. The cattle’s temperature may be within the normal range or may be elevated. The temperature increase may be due to the presence of an infection and / or inflammation. Typically, indicators of inflammation include the presence of pain, redness or discoloration compared to what would be considered normal; swelling in an area and elevated local temperature. The term 'California mastitis test (CMT)' refers to an indicator of bovine cell count in milk. The CMT test works by disrupting the cell membrane of all cells in a milk sample, allowing these cells to react with a test reagent and form a gel. The CMT test can also be used to detect subclinical, i.e. asymptomatic, mastitis infection. The term 'mastitis' refers to a persistent, inflammatory reaction in the udder tissue caused by an infectious microorganism caused by a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, such as Staphylococcus aureus. Early identification and treatment of clinical symptoms is essential for effective treatment of the disease. The term 'effective treatment' refers to a treatment that normalizes the somatic cell count of a bovine animal to what are generally considered to be normal levels. The term 'somatic cell count' refers to the cell count of somatic cells in a fluid sample, such as milk. The number of somatic cells increases in response to pathogenic bacteria, which is an indicator of the presence of pathogenic microorganisms and, for example, mastitis. Generally, less than 100,000 cells / ml are considered 'normal' levels, i.e. the cattle are considered to be uninfected, and generally a somatic cell count of more than 250,000 cells / ml is an indication of the presence of infection in cattle. Various tests are available, all of which are suitable in the present invention for determining the number of somatic cells. The term 'the bacterium is resistant to treatment with at least one antibiotic' refers to antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics. Resistance in bacteria can arise naturally through genetic mutation, where one species acquires resistance from another. However, the widespread use of antimicrobials appears to promote selection for mutations that can render antimicrobials ineffective. In bovine mastitis, narrow-spectrum, long-acting penicillin antibiotics are typically prescribed, but in resistant, chronic or widespread infections, antibiotic treatment alone will fail. The term 'pain-relieving composition' refers to an analgesic drug or a composition that provides pain relief. The analgesic composition may be administered via enteral / gastrointestinal, parenteral or topical routes. Any known analgesic agent conventionally used to treat pain or inflammation in cattle may be used. An analgesic cream or ointment is an analgesic composition that is administered topically to the site of infection. The term 'milking robot' refers to an agricultural robot for milking dairy animals, especially dairy cattle. The milking robot may be automatic or semi-automatic and may further include computers, herd management software and the like and may be equipped with monitoring systems, such as various sensors, to monitor the health of the cattle. Furthermore, the milking robot may include semi-automatic or automatic cow traffic control (e.g. electric gates, etc.). Specific embodiments of the invention In an embodiment of the invention according to the first aspect, the inspection is by visual, somatosensory, thermal or olfactory inspection of the presence or degree of infection and / or inflammation. Typically, cattle show signs of infection or inflammation, such as pain, redness in the infected area, swelling and elevated local temperature. By assessing the cattle according to conventional indicators of inflammation, the cattle can be effectively isolated from the herd, thereby reducing the number of infections and the cattle can begin treatment as early as possible when the infection is detected. The test or marker may be, for example, the California mastitis test (CMT), somatic cell count, and temperature of a bovine animal. Any conventional test may be used to identify the presence or degree of infection in a milk sample from a bovine animal. Typically, the degree of infection can be identified as grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3 infection using, for example, the CMT test. Grade 1 infection typically refers to a milk sample that is visually slightly altered, such as the milk appearing thinner and more similar in consistency to milk with a higher water content; however, the bovine's soft gland is unaffected by pain. Typical treatment for grade 1 infection is to wait and observe, as treatments at this early stage often fail. Grade 2 mastitis is typically characterized by a swollen gland and changes in the milk; the cattle are typically affected by pain. A few lumps may be present in the milk. A typical treatment for grade 2 infections is the administration of penicillin and analgesics as the first choice, with monitoring and possible adjustment of treatment according to subsequent milk test results and susceptibility testing. Grade 3 infection or mastitis is characterised by the cattle generally showing visible signs of illness, such as reduced appetite, reduced performance, and the milk typically changing colour and often appearing yellow in colour, similar to the colour of butter. Typically, E. coli or Klebsiella are suspected in grade 3 infections. If there are many cases of grade 3 infection on a farm, the focus is typically on managing the disease by, for example, increasing energy levels with appropriate feed supplements, administering vitamin E and ensuring appropriate hygiene in the barns and during milking, i.e. ensuring clean and dry teats. Some of the bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, but some bacterial strains can be treated without antibiotics in the form of supportive treatment, for example by administering antibiotics and fluid therapy by pumping water and electrolytes into the body of the affected cattle. The microorganism may be a gram-negative or gram-positive bacterium or a fungus such as yeast. It is typically not recommended to treat gram-negative bacteria with penicillin; for gram-positive microorganisms, the first line of treatment typically consists of administering penicillin. Yeast infections may be caused by poor hygiene or other environmental factors. The bacterium may be resistant to treatment with at least one antibiotic. For example, Streptococcus Faecalis typically responds poorly to broad-spectrum antibiotics, and there are various resistant forms that are difficult to combat with antibiotics. Streptococcus Uberis, one of the main causes of chronic mastitis in cattle, is difficult to treat with antibiotics due to widespread resistance. E. coli is resistant to antibiotics in most cases, therefore treatment is often difficult. The microorganism may be selected from Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Escherichia sp., Arcanobacterium sp., Klebsiella sp., Mycoplasma sp., Corynebacterium sp. and yeast. More specifically, the microorganism can be Streptococcus Dysgalactia, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactia, Escherichia coli, Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycoplasma bovis, Corynebacterium bovis and yeast. Arcanobacterium The frequency of laser light pulses is typically between 200-2500 Hz, preferably between 250-2500 Hz, such as between 300-2400 Hz, such as 400-2300 Hz, such as 500-2200 Hz, such as 600-2100 Hz, such as 700-2000 Hz, such as between 800-2000 Hz at 200-500 mW, preferably around 500 mW or around 1200 mW. The treatment time is typically set to at least 20 seconds, preferably at least 25 seconds, more preferably at least 30 seconds, such as 40 seconds, such as 50 seconds, such as 60 seconds, such as 70 seconds, such as 80 seconds, such as 90 seconds and up to 7 minutes. The treatment time can be repeated during a single treatment session, for example 3 times, such as 5 times, such as 8 times, such as 10 times, such as 15 times, such as 20 times, such as 25 times, such as 30 times, such as up to 100 times, to provide a total treatment time of up to about 20 minutes, such as up to about 25 minutes, such as up to about 30 minutes. The power level of the laser treatment apparatus is set at 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the maximum power of the laser treatment apparatus, provided that the maximum power is about 200-500 mW, even more preferably at 500 mW or about 1200 mW. Typical laser treatment devices that may be suitable are Class 2, Class 3b and Class 4 lasers. The laser treatment device can preferably provide a continuous wave power of about 25 mW to 1 W at a wavelength of about 400 nm to 1000 nm, such as from about 400 nm to about 700 nm or from about 800 to about 950 nm. Typically, Class 2 lasers provide a maximum allowable continuous wave power of about 1 mW at a wavelength of between 400-700 nm (visible spectrum). Class 3b lasers typically provide a maximum allowable continuous wave power of 5-500 mW at a wavelength of 400-1000 nm or 400-750 nm (visible spectrum). Class 4 lasers typically provide an output power of more than 500 mW. The laser preferably operates at about 200-500 mW or at about 200-1200 mW at a wavelength of about 800-950 nm. When the bacterium is resistant to treatment with at least one antibiotic, the treatment time is at least 40 seconds, such as at least 50 seconds, such as 60 seconds, such as 70 seconds, and the treatment time is preferably between 40 seconds and 2 minutes, more preferably between 40 seconds and 6 minutes. Resistant microorganisms typically require either a longer treatment time or a higher energy in each pulse of laser light, often both. The inventors of the present application observed a correlation between the resistant microorganisms and the treatment time and / or the amount of energy in each pulse of light to be transmitted to the bovine animal. Typically, resistant microorganisms require a more extensive treatment to eliminate these microorganisms. Therefore, chronic or resistant microorganisms require a higher dose of treatment. In yet another embodiment, a method for setting output parameters of a laser treatment apparatus for treating bovine mastitis according to the second aspect is provided. In an embodiment according to the second aspect, the inspection is by visual, somatosensory, thermal or olfactory inspection of the presence or degree of infection and / or inflammation. The test or marker is selected from California mastitis test (CMT), somatic cell count, and the temperature of a bovine animal. The microorganism may be a gram-negative or gram-positive bacterium or a fungus such as yeast. The bacterium may be resistant to treatment with at least one antibiotic. The microorganism may be selected from Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Escherichia sp., Arcanobacterium sp., Klebsiella sp., Mycoplasma sp., Corynebacterium sp. and yeast. The microorganism can be selected from Streptococcus Dysgalactia, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactia, Escherichia coli, Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Kleibsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycoplasma bovis, Corynebacterium bovis and yeast. The pulse frequency can be set to between 200-2500 Hz, preferably between 250-2500 Hz, such as between 300-2400 Hz, such as 400-2300 Hz, such as 500-2200 Hz, such as 600-2100 Hz, such as 700-2000 Hz, such as between 800-2000 Hz at 200-1200 mW, preferably around 500 mW or around 1200 mW. The treatment time can be set to at least 20 seconds, preferably at least 25 seconds, more preferably at least 30 seconds, such as 40 seconds, such as 50 seconds, such as 60 seconds, such as 1 minute, such as 80 seconds, such as 90 seconds and up to 7 minutes. The treatment time can be repeated during a single treatment session, for example 3 times, such as 5 times, such as 8 times, such as 10 times, such as 15 times, such as 20 times, such as 25 times, such as 30 times, such as up to 100 times, to provide a total treatment time of up to about 20 minutes, such as up to about 25 minutes, such as up to about 30 minutes. The power output level of the laser treatment apparatus can be set to 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the maximum power output level of the laser treatment apparatus, provided that the maximum power output level is about 200-1500 mW, even more preferably about 500 mW or about 1200 mW. In an embodiment of the second aspect, when the bacterium is resistant to treatment with at least one antibiotic, the treatment time is at least 40 seconds, such as at least 50 seconds, such as 60 seconds, such as 70 seconds, and the treatment time is preferably between 40 seconds and 2 minutes, more preferably between 40 seconds and 6 minutes. In another embodiment, an analgesic composition is provided for use in a method of treating bovine mastitis, the method comprising administering the analgesic composition to a bovine animal and subsequently performing the method according to the first aspect. In another embodiment, an analgesic cream or ointment is provided for use in a method of treating bovine mastitis, the method comprising applying the analgesic cream or ointment to a cow's udder and subsequently performing the method according to the first aspect. The analgesic composition may be any conventionally used analgesic composition. The analgesic cream or ointment may also be, for example, a warming cream that relieves pain in the cattle. The inventors of the present invention realized that the laser treatment apparatus can be provided in an assembly according to the fifth aspect. The device may comprise a milking robot. Furthermore, the determination may be made by means of at least one sensor. EXAMPLE 1 Milk from cows is inspected 2-3 times a day. The inspection includes recording the daily milk production (in liters), comparing this value with the expected milk production, and the milk produced is inspected for the presence of microorganisms by taking a somatic cell count of potentially infectious microorganisms. SSSSSS S Table 1. Overview of registration date and time for different cows with elevated cell counts The presence of mastitis was confirmed in the cows by the CMT test. The infection was identified as grade 1-2-3 infection, and the identified microorganisms are summarized in Table 2. S S S S S S S Table 2: Microorganisms identified in the cows. The output parameters of the apparatus for effective treatment were identified as follows. The device used laser light with a wavelength of 905 nm. The laser output power of the device was between 125 mW and 900 mW. K n 8 6 7 5 5 8 6 Table 3. Output parameters for effective treatment of the studied cows. *) For cows no. 5990, 5186, 8141 and 6556, numerical values ​​for Hz, Joule, repetition times and processing time are subject to tolerances of / - 30%. The treatment of cow no. 8059 and 6761 was repeated twice over 3 days with a break between treatments, i.e. the treatments took place on days 1 and 3, with day 2 being recorded as a non-treatment day; the treatment of cow no. 7500 was repeated 3 times over 6 days with a break between treatment days, i.e. the treatments took place on days 1, 3 and 6, with days 2 and 4 being recorded as non-treatment days. All cows showed a positive response to the treatment with a decrease in somatic cell count after the first treatment, which is shown in Table 4 below. Table 4. Cell count response to first treatment. Cow no. 6556 had a fever, which is why the cell count fluctuates slightly up and down. After the second treatment, all cows showed a significant decrease in the number of somatic cells with negative growth of all identified microorganisms, see Table 5. Table 5. Cell number response to second treatment After the end of the second treatment, all cows are considered to have healthy somatic cell count and are therefore considered cured, cf. Table 6. SSSSSS S Table 6. Cell count after completion of second treatment. On average 3-5 days after the infection is identified and treatment is started, the cow is declared healthy and can be reintroduced into the herd and can continue to produce milk for e.g. consumption or further food processing. Due to the lack of use of antibiotics, the cow recovered quickly and there is no further need to remove the cow from the herd. Most interestingly and most advantageously, milk production did not decrease significantly. Often, cows treated with antibiotics also result in significantly reduced milk production. For example, the milk yield from cow no. 7500 shows a stable milk production even during the treatment, see table 7: Table 7. Milk yield vs. expected milk yield for cow no. 7500. Fig. 1 illustrates the use of a portable system 4 for treating bovine mastitis according to the present invention. The illustration shows a cow 1 with an udder 2 seen from behind, seen from the side. A human user 3 wearing a portable system 4 according to the present disclosure kneels behind the cow 1. A part of the system 4, the device housing 5, is removably attached to the user 3, for example a belt on the user 3, by means of a fastening device, such as a clip, which is attached to the device housing 5. Another part of the system 4, the handle 11 of the device, is held in the hand of the user 3. The device housing 5 and the device handle 11 are flexibly connected to each other via a cable assembly 12. The user 3 can use the portable system 4 to treat bovine mastitis on the cow's udder 2. The output light comes from the handle 11 of the device and can thereby be easily directed towards an infected part of the udder 2, even in an on-site environment, such as a cowshed. Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a portable system 4 according to the present invention. As illustrated in Figure 1, the system comprises a device housing 5 and a device handle 11, which is flexibly connected to a cable assembly 12. The first light source 6a and a second light source 6b are located in the housing 5 of the device. The first light source 6a is a pulsed light source in the form of a 905 nm laser with a pulse length of 100 ns. The second light source 6b is a continuous light source in the form of an 808 nm continuous wave laser. The wavelengths of these light sources may change with temperature. If applicable, the wavelengths are preferably measured at a temperature of 20 °C. The light sources 6a, 6b are optically coupled to a light output 7, which is located in the handle 11 of the device, via a fiber optic cable assembly 13 in the cable assembly 12. At the end of the fiber optic cable assembly 13, in the handle of the device, an optical lens assembly 14 decouples the light from the light sources 6a, 6b from the fiber optic cable assembly 13 and delivers the output light 8 through an opening 9 at the light output 7. In the present embodiment, the handle of the device has a thickness in the direction of propagation of the output light 8 which is less than 20 cm. Generally, the thickness of the handle of the device in the direction of propagation of the output light for embodiments of the invention is less than 20 cm, for example less than 15 cm, for example less than 10 cm, for example less than 8 cm, such as less than 6 cm. This makes it easy to maneuver the handle of the device around the udder of the cow and enables insertion of the handle of the device into narrow areas, such as the area between the udder and the leg of the cow. A thickness as exemplified here can be achieved, for example, by inserting a mirror which redirects the output light from the fiber optic cable unit 13 between the terminal of the fiber optic cable unit 13 and the opening 9 or the light outlet 7. The handle 11 of the device further comprises a proximity sensor 15 configured to detect the presence of an udder. The proximity sensor may, for example, be configured to detect an object or an udder within a maximum of 15 cm, for example within a maximum of 10 cm, such as within a maximum of 5 cm. By ensuring that the provision of output light 8 is dependent on the detection of an object or an udder, the risk of unintended illumination is reduced. In addition, the device handle 11 includes a trigger switch 16. When system 4 is not in use, the trigger switch is in a disengaged position. In this position, system 4 does not provide output light 8. A user can switch the trigger switch 16 from the disengaged position to a locked position by pressing with, for example, a finger. When the trigger switch 16 is in the activated position, the system 4 can emit an output light 8 if the proximity sensor 15 also detects an object or an udder. The trigger switch 16 and the proximity sensor 15 are both communicatively connected to the light sources 6a, 6b via a processing unit 19, which is enabled by an electrical cable unit 17 in the cable unit 12. This processing unit 19 processes input from the proximity sensor and the trigger switch to determine whether the light sources 6a, 6b are to provide light. The processing unit may also take into account other inputs, for example based on an on / off button on the housing 5 of the unit (not shown), or based on inputs or settings provided by a user via a user interface 18. In the present embodiment, the output power of each of the light sources 6a, 6b can be configured via the user interface. Thereby, the power provided in the output lamp 8 can be adapted based on the conditions, for example based on the degree of infection on the udder. The portable system further comprises a power source 10 located in the housing 5 of the unit. The power source 10 may, for example, be provided as one or more batteries. In alternative examples, the system may be powered by a power cord. The power source supplies the 4 components of the system with electrical power, such as the proximity sensor 15, the trigger switch, the light sources 6a, 6b, the processing unit 19 and the user interface 18. The system 4 further comprises a fastening device 20 which allows the housing to be removably fastened, for example to a belt or other article of clothing. In the present example, the fastening element is illustrated as a clip. Other fastening elements, such as straps, may also be used. List of Figure References: 1 cow 2 udders 3 users 4 portable system 5 device enclosure 6 light source 7 light sockets 8 exit lights 9 aperture 10 power source 11 device handles 12 cable assembly 13 fiber optic cable assembly 14 optical lens assembly 15 proximity sensor 16 trigger switch 17 electrical cable assembly 18 user interface 19 treatment unit 20 fastener 21 mirror

Claims

REQUIREMENTS 1. A portable system for treating bovine mastitis, the system comprising: a device housing; at least one light source disposed in the device housing, wherein the at least one light source is configured to provide light having at least one wavelength in a range from 700 nm to 1100 nm, and at least one light output optically coupled to the at least one light source such that the system provides output light at at least one light output from at least one light source, wherein the output light at the at least one light output has an average power of at least 0.2 W.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light outlet comprises an aperture, wherein the aperture has a diameter in a range from 1.5 cm to 10 cm, for example from 2 cm to 9 cm, for example from 2.5 cm to 8 cm, such as from 3.0 cm to 7 cm; and / or wherein the aperture has an area in a range from 1.5 cm2 to 80 cm2, for example from 3 cm2 to 65 cm2, for example from 5 cm2 to 50 cm2, such as from 7 cm2 to 40 cm2. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing comprises a power source, such as a battery pack, that supplies power to the portable system. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises a device handle flexibly attached to the device housing, with at least one light outlet disposed in the device handle. A system according to claim 4, wherein the system comprises a cable assembly, wherein the handle of the assembly is flexibly attached to the housing of the assembly via the cable assembly, wherein the cable assembly comprises a fiber optic cable assembly optically connecting the at least one light source to the at least one light output. A system according to any one of claims 4-5, wherein the handle of the device comprises an optical lens unit configured to optically spatially align the output light with the aperture. A system according to claim 6, wherein the optical lens unit decouples the output light from the fiber optic cable unit. A system according to any one of claims 6-7, wherein the optical lens unit delivers the output light as a collimated beam.

9. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the system comprises a proximity sensor configured to detect an object, such as an udder, in the vicinity of at least one light output, wherein the proximity sensor is communicatively coupled to at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source requires the proximity sensor to detect the object to provide the output light.

10. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the system comprises a trigger switch switchable between an activated position and a deactivated position by a user of the system, wherein the trigger switch is communicatively coupled to at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source requires the trigger switch to be in the activated position to provide the output light. A system according to claim 10, wherein the trigger switch is located on the handle of the apparatus. A system according to any one of claims 9-11, wherein the cable assembly comprises an electrical cable assembly communicatively connecting any one of the proximity sensor and the trigger switch to the at least one light source.

13. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises a user interface, wherein the average power is configurable via the user interface. A system according to claim 13, wherein the user interface is located on the housing of the device.

15. A system according to any one of claims 13-14, wherein the average power is configurable in a range from at least 0.2 W to at least 100 W, for example in a range from at least 0.2 W to at most 100 W, for example in a range from at least 0.3 W to at most 50 W, for example in a range from 0.4 W to at most 20 W, for example in a range from 0.5 W to at most 10 W, such as in a range from 0.5 W to at most 5 W.

16. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the average power is at least 0.3 W, for example at least 0.5 W, for example at least 0.7 W, such as at least 1.0 W.

17. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the output light has a spatial peak power density of at most 5 W / cm2, wherein the spatial peak power density is measured as a spatial average power density in a circular region with an area in a range from 1 mm2 to 3 cm2, for example from 2 mm2 to 2.5 cm2, for example from 3 mm2 to 2.0 cm2, for example from 4 mm2 to 1.5 cm2, such as from 5 mm2 to 1.0 cm2.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the spatial peak power density is at most 4 W / cm2, for example at most 3 W / cm2, for example at most 2 W / cm2, for example at most 1.5 W / cm2, such as at most 1.0 W / cm2. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one wavelength is in a range from 750 nm to 1050 nm, for example from 800 nm to 1000 nm, such as from 800 nm to 950 nm. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one pulsed light source.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein light from the pulsed light source in the output light has an average power in a range from 10 mW to 500 mW, for example from 20 mW to 400 mW, for example from 30 mW to 300 mW, such as from 50 mW to 200 mW.

22. A system according to any one of claims 20-21, wherein light from the pulsed light source in the output light has a wavelength in a range from 750 nm to 1050 nm, for example from 800 nm to 1000 nm, for example from 850 nm to 950 nm, such as 905 nm.

23. A system according to any one of claims 20-22, wherein light from the pulsed light source in the output light has a pulse length in a range from 10 ns to 1000 ns, for example from 20 ns to 800 ns, for example from 30 ns to 600 ns, for example from 40 ns to 500 ns, for example from 50 ns to 400 ns, for example from 60 ns to 300 ns, for example from 70 ns to 200 ns, such as 100 ns.

24. A system according to any one of claims 20-23, wherein light from the pulsed light source in the output light has a pulse frequency in a range from 1 kHz to 30 kHz, for example from 2 kHz to 25 kHz, for example from 3 kHz to 20 kHz, for example from 5 kHz to 15 kHz.

25. A system according to any one of claims 20-24, wherein light from the pulsed light source in the output light has a pulse peak power in a range from 10 W to 300 W, for example from 20 W to 250 W, for example from 30 W to 200 W, for example from 50 W to 150 W, such as 100 W.

26. A system according to any one of claims 20-25, wherein light from the pulsed light source in the output light has a pulse energy in a range from 1 µJ to 100 µJ, for example in a range from 2 µJ to 80 µJ, for example in a range from 3 µJ to 60 µJ, for example in a range from 4 µJ to 50 µJ, for example in a range from 5 µJ to 40 µJ, for example in a range from 6 µJ to 30 µJ, such as in a range from 8 µJ to 20 µJ, such as 10 µJ.

27. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light source comprises a continuous light source, such as a continuous wave laser or a light emitting diode device, wherein the continuous light source has a duty cycle of at least 10%, for example at least 30%, for example at least 50%, such as 100%.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein light from the continuous light source in the output light has an average power in a range from 0.2 W to 10 W, for example from 0.3 W to 8 W, for example from 0.4 W to 6 W, for example from 0.5 W to 4 W.

29. A system according to any one of claims 27-28, wherein light from the continuous light source in the output light has a wavelength in a range from 700 nm to 1050 nm, for example from 720 nm to 1000 nm, for example from 740 nm to 950 nm, for example from 760 nm to 850 nm, such as 808 nm.

30. A composition of light components for use in treating bovine mastitis, wherein the composition comprises: at least one light component having at least one wavelength in the range of 700 nm to 1100 nm, wherein the composition has an average power of at least 0.2 W. A composition according to claim 30, wherein the average power is at least 0.3 W, for example at least 0.5 W, for example at least 0.7 W, such as at least 1.0 W.

32. A composition according to any one of claims 30-31, wherein the at least one light component has a spatial peak power density of at most 5 W / cm2, wherein the spatial peak power density is measured as a spatial average power density in a circular region with an area in a range from 1 mm2 to 3 cm2, for example from 2 mm2 to 2.5 cm2, for example from 3 mm2 to 2.0 cm2, for example from 4 mm2 to 1.5 cm2, such as from 5 mm2 to 1.0 cm2.

33. A composition according to any one of claims 30-32, wherein the spatial peak power density is at most 4 W / cm2, for example at most 3 W / cm2, for example at most 2 W / cm2, for example at most 1.5 W / cm2, such as at most 1.0 W / cm2. A composition according to any one of claims 30-33, wherein the at least one light component comprises at least one pulsed light component. A composition according to claim 34, wherein the pulsed light component has an average power in a range from 10 mW to 500 mW, for example from 20 mW to 400 mW, for example from 30 mW to 300 mW, such as from 50 mW to 200 mW. A composition according to any one of claims 34-35, wherein the pulsed light component has a wavelength in a range from 750 nm to 1050 nm, for example from 800 nm to 1000 nm, for example from 850 nm to 950 nm, such as 905 nm.

37. A composition according to any one of claims 34-36, wherein the light from the pulsed light component has a pulse length in a range from 10 ns to 1000 ns, for example from 20 ns to 800 ns, for example from 30 ns to 600 ns, for example from 40 ns to 500 ns, for example from 50 ns to 400 ns, for example from 60 ns to 300 ns, for example from 70 ns to 200 ns, such as 100 ns.

38. A composition according to any one of claims 34-37, wherein the light from the pulsed light component has a pulse frequency in a range from 1 kHz to 30 kHz, for example from 2 kHz to 25 kHz, for example from 3 kHz to 20 kHz, for example from 5 kHz to 15 kHz.

39. A composition according to any one of claims 34-38, wherein the light from the pulsed light component has a pulse peak power in a range from 10 W to 300 W, for example from 20 W to 250 W, for example from 30 W to 200 W, for example from 50 W to 150 W, such as 100 W.

40. A composition according to any one of claims 34-39, wherein the light from the pulsed light component has a pulse energy in a range from 1 µJ to 100 µJ, for example in a range from 2 µJ to 80 µJ, for example in a range from 3 µJ to 60 µJ, for example in a range from 4 µJ to 50 µJ, for example in a range from 5 µJ to 40 µJ, for example in a range from 6 µJ to 30 µJ, such as in a range from 8 µJ to 20 µJ, such as 10 µJ.

41. A composition according to any one of claims 30-40, wherein the at least one light component comprises a continuous light component, wherein the continuous light component has a duty cycle of at least 10%, for example at least 30%, for example at least 50%, such as 100%.

42. A composition according to claim 41, wherein the light from the continuous light component has an average power in a range from 0.2 W to 10 W, for example from 0.3 W to 8 W, for example from 0.4 W to 6 W, for example from 0.5 W to 4 W.

43. A composition according to any one of claims 41-42, wherein the light from the continuous light component has a wavelength in a range from 700 nm to 1050 nm, for example from 720 nm to 1000 nm, for example from 740 nm to 950 nm, for example from 760 nm to 850 nm, such as 808 nm.

44. A method for treating bovine mastitis, the method comprising providing a system according to any one of claims 1-29; and illuminating an udder of a bovine animal, such as a cow, with a light composition provided as the output light of the system. A method according to claim 44, wherein the composition is the composition of light according to any one of claims 30-43.

46. ​​A method for reducing the number of pathogenic microorganisms in an udder of a bovine animal using a light treatment device, the method comprising a) determining the presence or degree of infection and / or inflammation by inspecting or sampling a bovine animal and / or inspecting a milk sample from the bovine animal by quantitatively or qualitatively determining the infection and / or inflammation using a test or marker, c) determining at least one parameter setting for the light treatment device, the at least one parameter setting comprising a frequency of light pulses, an amount of energy in each light pulse, an amount of total energy emitted by the light treatment device, treatment time, the wavelength of light emitted by the light treatment device, average power level of the light treatment device, the number of locations on the udder for exposure to light, or any combination thereof, and d) irradiating one or more locations on the udder using a phototherapy device operating in accordance with the at least one specific parameter setting. The method of claim 46, wherein the phototherapy apparatus is the system of any one of claims 1-29.

48. The method of any one of claims 46-47, wherein the phototherapy apparatus is a laser therapy apparatus.

49.

49. A method according to any one of claims 46-48, further comprising, before step c): b) determining 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the genus and / or species of the infectious microorganism, antibiotic resistance exhibited by the microorganism, location of infection, severity of infection and extent of infection, wherein step c) is based on the determination from step b).

50. A method according to any one of claims 46-49, wherein no other treatment is used to reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms in the udder of the bovine animal.

51. The method of any one of claims 46-50, wherein the bovine animal is not treated with antibiotics to reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms.

52. The method of any one of claims 46-51, wherein the inspection is by visual, somatosensory, thermal or olfactory inspection of the presence or degree of infection and / or inflammation.

53. The method of any one of claims 46-52, wherein the test or marker is selected from the California mastitis test (CMT), somatic cell count, and the temperature of a bovine animal. The method of any one of claims 46-53, wherein the microorganism is a gram-negative or gram-positive bacterium or a fungus, such as a yeast. The method of any one of claims 46-54, wherein the bacterium is resistant to treatment with at least one antibiotic.

56. The method of any one of claims 46-55, wherein the microorganism is selected from Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Escherichia sp., Arcanobacterium sp., Klebsiella sp., Mycoplasma sp., Corynebacterium sp. and yeast.

57. The method of any one of claims 46-56, wherein the microorganism is selected from Streptococcus Dysgalactia, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactia, Escherichia coli, Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycoplasma bovis, Corynebacterium bovis and yeast.

58. A method according to any one of claims 46-57, wherein the frequency of the light pulses is between 200-2500 Hz, preferably between 250-2500 Hz, such as between 300-2400 Hz, such as 400-2300 Hz, such as 500-2200 Hz, such as 600-2100 Hz, such as 700-2000 Hz, such as between 800-2000 Hz at 200-1200 mW, preferably around 125-500 mW or around 300-1200 mW.

59. The method according to any one of claims 46-58, wherein the pulse frequency is between 200 Hz and 200 kHz, and / or wherein the output power is between 0.2 W and 100 W, for example between 0.3 W and 50 W, for example between 0.4 W and 20 W, for example between 0.5 W and 10 W, such as between 0.5 W and 5 W.

60. A method according to any one of claims 46-59, wherein the treatment time is set to at least 20 seconds, preferably at least 25 seconds, more preferably at least 30 seconds, such as 40 seconds, such as 50 seconds, such as 60 seconds, such as 70 seconds, such as 80 seconds, such as 90 seconds, and wherein the treatment time is set to up to 15 minutes, for example up to 12 minutes, for example up to 10 minutes, such as up to 7 minutes.

61. The method of any one of claims 46-60, wherein the power level of the phototherapy apparatus is set to 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the maximum power level of the phototherapy apparatus, optionally provided that the maximum power level is about 200-1500 mW, even more preferably about 500 mW or about 1200 mW.

62. A method according to any one of claims 54-61, wherein the treatment time when the bacterium is resistant to treatment with at least one antibiotic is at least 40 seconds, such as at least 50 seconds, such as 60 seconds, such as 70 seconds, and the treatment time is preferably between 40 seconds and 2 minutes, more preferably between 40 seconds and 6 minutes.

63. The method of any one of claims 54-62, wherein when the bacterium is resistant to treatment with at least one antibiotic, the energy output from the phototherapy device is between 300 and 1000 Joules.

64. A method for setting output parameters of a light treatment apparatus, such as a laser treatment apparatus, for treating bovine mastitis, the method comprising a) providing data derived from a bovine animal to be treated, the data being indicative of the presence or degree of infection and / or inflammation and selected from inspection data from the bovine animal and / or inspection data from a milk sample from the bovine animal, and the inspection data constituting a quantitative or qualitative indication of the infection obtained by means of a test or marker, b) said data comprising 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of: the genus and / or species of observed infectious microorganisms, antibiotic resistance exhibited by observed microorganisms, location(s) of the infection, severity of the infection and extent of the infection, c) determining, based on a combined score derived from the data in b), at least one parameter setting for the light treatment apparatus,wherein the at least one parameter setting comprises a frequency of laser light pulses, an amount of energy in each pulse of the laser light, an amount of total energy emitted by the light treatment device, treatment time, the wavelength of the laser light emitted by the laser, the intensity of the laser light treatment, the number of locations on the udder for exposure to laser light, or any combination thereof., 65. The method of claim 64, wherein the inspection is by visual, somatosensory, thermal or olfactory inspection of the presence or degree of infection and / or inflammation.

66. The method of any one of claims 64-65, wherein the test or marker is selected from the California mastitis test (CMT), somatic cell count, and the temperature of a bovine animal.

67. The method of any one of claims 64-66, wherein the microorganism is a gram-negative or gram-positive bacterium or a fungus, such as a yeast.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the bacterium is resistant to treatment with at least one antibiotic.

69. The method of any one of claims 64-68, wherein the microorganism is selected from Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Escherichia sp., Arcanobacterium sp., Klebsiella sp., Mycoplasma sp., Corynebacterium sp. and yeast.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the microorganism is selected from Streptococcus Dysgalactia, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactia, Escherichia coli, Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Kleibsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycoplasma bovis, Corynebacterium bovis and yeast.

71. A method according to any one of claims 64-70, wherein the pulse frequency is set to between 200-2500 Hz, preferably between 250-2500 Hz, such as between 300-2400 Hz, such as 400-2300 Hz, such as 500-2200 Hz, such as 600-2100 Hz, such as 700-2000 Hz, such as between 800-2000 Hz at 200-1200 mW, preferably around 125-500 mW or around 300-1200 mW.

72. The method of any one of claims 64-71, wherein the pulse frequency is between 200 and 200 Hz at a power of 125-375 mW or of 300-900 mW.

73. The method according to any one of claims 64-72, wherein the treatment time is set to at least 20 seconds, preferably at least 25 seconds, more preferably at least 30 seconds, such as 40 seconds, such as 50 seconds, such as 60 seconds, such as 1 minute, such as 80 seconds, such as 90 seconds and up to 7 minutes.

74. The method of any one of claims 64-73, wherein the power level of the phototherapy apparatus is set to 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the maximum power level of the phototherapy apparatus, provided that the maximum power level is about 200-1500 mW, even more preferably about 500 mW power or about 1200 mW.

75. A method according to any one of claims 64-74, wherein the treatment time when the bacterium is resistant to treatment with at least one antibiotic is at least 40 seconds, such as at least 50 seconds, such as 60 seconds, such as 70 seconds, and the treatment time is preferably between 40 seconds and 2 minutes, more preferably between 40 seconds and 6 minutes.

76. The method of claims 64-75, wherein when the bacterium is resistant to treatment with at least one antibiotic, the energy output from the phototherapy device is between 300 and 1000 joules.

77. An analgesic composition for use in a method of treating bovine mastitis, which method comprises administering the analgesic composition to a bovine animal and subsequently carrying out the method of any one of claims 44-63.

78. An analgesic cream or ointment for use in a method of treating bovine mastitis, which method comprises applying the analgesic cream or ointment to a cow's udder and subsequently carrying out the method according to any one of claims 44-63.

79. A device for treating bovine mastitis, comprising a light treatment apparatus, such as a laser treatment apparatus, and a) a first control means for determining or receiving an indication of the presence or degree of infection and / or inflammation by inspecting or sampling a bovine animal and / or inspecting a milk sample from the bovine animal by quantitatively or qualitatively determining the infection by means of a test or marker, b) optionally a second control means for determining or receiving an indication of the presence of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the genus or species of infectious microorganism, antibiotic resistance exhibited by the microorganism, the location of the infection, the severity of the infection and the extent of the infection, c) a third control means for determining, based on the output of the first and / or second control means, at least one parameter setting for the light treatment apparatus,wherein the at least one parameter setting comprises a frequency of laser light pulses, an amount of energy in each pulse of the laser light, an amount of total energy emitted by the phototherapy apparatus, treatment time, wavelength of laser light emitted by the laser, and the intensity of the laser light treatment, the number of locations on the udder for exposure to laser light, or any combination thereof, and d) a fourth control means for controlling the phototherapy apparatus to irradiate one or more locations on the udder by means of a phototherapy apparatus operating in accordance with the at least one particular parameter setting., 80. A device according to claim 79, wherein the device comprises a milking robot.

81. A unit according to claims 79-80, wherein the determination of the first control means is carried out by means of at least one sensor.