Prevalence and Risk Factors of Mild Mastitis in Crossbred Dairy Cows
Md Khokon Shikder 1, Md Mehedi Hasan 1, Md. Jalal Uddin Sarder 1, Syed Sarwar Jahan 1, Md Akhtarul Islam 1*
Livestock Research Today 2(1) 1-8 https://doi.org/10.25163/livestock.2110127
Submitted: 11 March 2024 Revised: 19 May 2024 Published: 20 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Mastitis is a major concern for the dairy industry, significantly impacting milk production and animal health. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing mild mastitis in crossbred dairy cows in Bangladesh, focusing on farm size, breed, parity, body condition score (BCS), milk yield, and lactation stage. Methods: A total of 17 dairy farms, including seven large farms in the Rajshahi district and ten medium-sized farms in Rajshahi and Sirajganj, were surveyed. The California Mastitis Test (CMT) was conducted to assess the prevalence of mild mastitis, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data on cow breed, age, farm size, calf number, BCS, milk yield, and lactation stage. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the associations between these factors and mild mastitis prevalence. Results: Mild mastitis was detected in 39.6% of the studied cases, with a significantly higher prevalence in Friesian (41.7%) and Sahiwal crosses (41.2%) compared to indigenous breeds (24%). CMT results showed that 24.6% of the tested quarters had subclinical mastitis, with 1.9% and 10.1% exhibiting strong and mild responses, respectively (P<0.05). Parity 2 to 4 showed a significantly higher prevalence of mild mastitis (46.5%) than parity 5 to 10 (30.3%) (P<0.05). Cows with poor BCS had an increased prevalence (44.3%) of mild mastitis, particularly among those producing 1 to 5 liters of milk per day. Additionally, a significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in the prevalence of subclinical mastitis between cows in late lactation (178–283 days) and early lactation (31–90 days). Conclusion: The findings indicate that breed, farm size, parity, BCS, milk yield, and lactation stage significantly influence the occurrence of mild mastitis in crossbred dairy cows. Effective management strategies, including improved nutritional support and early detection, are essential to mitigate the impact of subclinical mastitis and enhance dairy productivity in the studied regions.
Keywords: Mild mastitis, crossbred dairy cows, California Mastitis Test, body condition score, lactation stage
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