Characterisation of the distribution of mastitis among quarters in dairy cattle from farms of the island of Gran Canaria

Abstract

Mastitis in cattle has its origin in an inflammatory reaction of the udder and it is a disease of great importance since it affects the physical condition of the animals, thus reducing the productivity and quality of the milk, as well as constituting a danger to public health. It is a disease with a worldwide distribution and represents one of the main welfare and economic issue in dairy cattle farming. Due its relevance, effective diagnostic strategies are paramount for preventing, controlling, and treating the disease. In this study, California mastitis test (CMT) and electric conductivity (EC) from 128 animals present in two dairy cattle farms of the island of Gran Canaria were evaluated. Based on CMT by quarter, the right cranial quarter of all the animals analysed presented 5.5% had traces, 3.9% presented the semi-quantitative classification 1 + and 2.3% classification 2+. In the case of the left cranial quarter; 5.5% of the samples showed traces, 6.3% fell into the 1+ classification, 1.6% into the 2+ classification and another 1.6% into the 3+ classification. Looking at the results of the right caudal quarter, it was observed that, of the samples analysed, 5.5% presented traces, 2.3% in classification 1+, 3.1% in classification 2+ and 0.8% in the 3+ rating. Finally, in the left caudal quarter, 6.3% of the samples gave traces, 3.1% had 1+ classification and 2.3% the 2+ classification. The distribution of non-functional quarters demonstrated that the right cranial was affected with a frequency of 18%, the left cranial and right caudal 14% and the left caudal 54%. Based on EC results, no animal presented increased conductivity. Our study concludes that although novel diagnostic strategies such as EC are currently present in most dairy cattle farms, the use of CMT should still be considered central in the diagnosis of cattle mastitis. Based on our data, the combination with EC data should be performed with lactation-long measurements, instead of punctual collection of data. The distribution of mastitis and non-functional quarter should be studied in combination with the evaluation of the milking procedures performed and should be specific to each farm.