Prevalence of clinical and subclinical bovine mastitis in Kashmir, India: Evaluating diagnostic methods and implications for udder health

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of clinical and subclinical bovine mastitis in Kashmir, India, and evaluated four diagnostic methods: California Mastitis Test (CMT), Infrared Thermography, Bacterial Culture, and Somatic Cell Count (SCC). Analysing 394 composite milk samples and infrared thermal images from crossbred dairy cattle, we found that 9.4% (37/394) had clinical mastitis, while subclinical mastitis affected 26.4% (104/394) based on SCC thresholds. The Somatic Cell Count (SCC) method identified a total of 141 cases. In comparison, Infrared Thermography detected 118 cases (83.69%), Bacterial Culture identified 96 cases (68.09%), and the California Mastitis Test (CMT) detected 85 cases (60.28%) of the total cases identified by the SCC method. Overall, mastitis was present in over one-third of the sampled population, underscoring a significant animal health concern. These findings highlight the necessity for comprehensive mastitis control programs in Kashmir, particularly for subclinical cases, to enhance udder health and sustain the dairy industry through regular screening and early intervention.