Seasonal incidence of subclinical mastitis in indigenous and crossbreed cattle

Abstract

The present investigation evaluated the seasonal incidence of mastitis in indigenous and crossbreed cattle at Division of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Pune, during 2024–2025 across rainy, winter, and summer seasons. Monthly and seasonal analyses revealed highest monthly SCM incidence in crossbreeds which occurred in the months of August and May (33.33%), with overall prevalence of 18.18% in summer and 15.38% in rainy seasons, compared to lower values of 1.56% and 7.02% in indigenous breeds for the same seasons, respectively and comparatively modest monthly peaks. THI monitoring revealed the highest mean THI, indicating the highest thermal stress during summer (71.72), moderate in rainy (67.85), and minimal in winter (66.86). Evaluation of SCC, yield, and composition in SCM-positive animals confirmed that mastitis significantly elevated SCC and reduced milk solids, particularly in crossbreeds. The study concluded that indigenous breeds demonstrated higher disease resilience and greater adaptability to environmental fluctuations leading to climatic stress, maintaining better udder health and milk quality, whereas crossbreeds require enhanced management interventions, particularly during high-THI periods.