Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Subclinical Mastitis in Lactating Cattle

Abstract

Mastitis is a multifactorial, economically detrimental inflammatory disease of the mammary gland, characterized by physical, chemical and bacteriological changes in milk along with pathological alterations in glandular tissue. The present investigation was undertaken to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in lactating cattle and to evaluate the associated risk factors in affected animals maintained under organized and unorganized sectors. The study was conducted over a period of six months at the Livestock Farm, Adhartal, various Gaushala and private dairy farms, Jabalpur (M.P.) where lactating cattle were screened for mastitis using the Modified California Mastitis Test (MCMT) and cattle positive for MCMT without clinical signs were further confirmed for subclinical mastitis (SCM) by Somatic cell count (SCC) estimation using somatic cell counter cum lactoscan (combo). A total of 209 lactating cattle were screened, of which 60 cattle were positive for subclinical mastitis, recorded a prevalence of 28.70%. A comparatively higher prevalence was observed among cattle maintained under the unorganized sector (36.36%). Multi-quarter involvement was commonly observed, with two-quarter involvement (10.52%) emerging as the predominant pattern. Crossbred cattle exhibited a higher prevalence (31.74%) compared to indigenous cattle (24.09%). Higher prevalence was observed in cattle age 7 years and above (29.83%) and during the early stage of lactation which was identified as a significant risk period (p<0.05). An increasing trend in prevalence was evident with advancing parity upto the 4th lactation followed by a marginal decline thereafter. MCMT grading indicated that the majority of positive quarters exhibited 1+ reaction, reflecting the predominance of lower grade subclinical infections. The findings indicate that subclinical mastitis remains a prevalent condition in lactating cattle, particularly under unorganized management systems, underscoring the need for routine screening and highlighting the importance of early detection and timely management to minimize production losses and disease transmission.