Milk Flow Disorders (MFD) associated recurrent mastitis in dairy cattle

Abstract

In a survey 140 milch animals for mastitis, 32 cows were found to have recurrent mastitis. In this, 23 (71.86 percent) cows were found to have Milk flow disorders (MFDs). Out of 23 MFDs affected cases, 34.3 (n=11) percent of cows had subclinical mastitis and 28.12 (n=9) percent had clinical mastitis. 9.4 (n=3) percent cows did not have any mastitis. Diagnosis of MFDs had clinical challenges. In field practice scenario detection of MFDs by routine clinical examination is less and requires udder and teat ultrasonographic studies. Higher number of MFDs were detected by using ultrasonography in 64.28 percent cases where as routine clinical exam detected it in only 35.75 percent cases. The mean values of Somatic Cell Count (SCC) were more in MFDs affected cases. In MFDs affected quarters the bacterial isolates identified were Staphylococcus aureus (4.69), Streptococcus agalactiae (2.34), Bacillus cereus (1.56), E.coli (0.78) and mixed infections (8.59).Culture negativity was noted in 3.91 percent of cases with MFDs. This study documented that milk flow disorder affected cows were more prone for subclinical mastitis.