Vol. 8, Issue 2 (2019)

Author(s):
Shaikh SR, Digraskar SU, Siddiqui MFMF, Borikar ST, Rajurkar SR and Suryawanshi PR

Abstract:
India is a premier milk producing country of the world and fabulously rich in dairy cows. Diseases of dairy cows achieve greatest importance and amongst which mastitis possesses highest clinical and economical significance. Therefore, the present epidemiological investigation was carried out to know the prevalence of mastitis in cows reared under different managemental conditions. The cow population was screened in and around Parbhani district of Marathwada region of Maharashtra, various organized and unorganized farms, gaushalas, local dairy farms and those belonging to dairy unit of College of Veterinary and Animals science, MAFSU, Parbhani. In the present research work, a total of 3152 quarter milk samples from 788 milking cows were screened for mastitis by using reference test as somatic cell count (SCC) while modified california mastitis test (MCMT), pH and electrical conductivity (EC) as indirect diagnostic tests. The overall prevalence of mastitis in lactating cows was 31.21% detected by SCC. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis was observed four times more (25.63%) than clinical mastitis (5.58%). Prevalence of mastitis in cows maintained under conventional housing system (39.55%) was found higher than loose housing system (29.51%). The prevalence of mastitis in HF cross was 39.01% while prevalence in native breeds was 29.52% detected. The prevalence of mastitis was observed highest in adult age group (39.44%), following in young age group (31.66%) and least in old age group (21.43%). The prevalence of mastitis in cows was highest in early lactation stage (35.25%), following mid lactation stage (29.69%) and least in late lactation stages (18.82%). The prevalence of mastitis in first to third, fourth to sixth and in more than seven lactation numbers were 26.36%, 51.61% and 16.28% respectively. The prevalence of mastitis was recorded highest in Left Hind quarter as 36.04%, following RH, LF and RF quarters were as 29.95%, 20.81% and 15.99% respectively. Prevalence of mastitis in was found highest in two quarters as 81.71%, following three, one and four quarters were as 13.01%, 3.25%, and 2.03% respectively.