DISTRIBUTION OF THE UDDER INFLAMATIONS AT DAIRY FARMS

Nasko Vasilev, Tchonka Miteva, Jury Mitev, Zhvka Gergovska, Toncho Penev, Mariana Koleva

Abstract: The inflammation of udder of dairy cows are serious problem in modern dairy farming, in which dairy farmers and researchers continue to work to limit their spread. The study was conducted in four dairy cattle farms (A, B, C, D), raising cows of Holstein-Frisian breed (imports and their offspring). The technology of animal’s rearing at farm A and B is free and in the farms C and D - tied. Milking the cows from farm A is performed in the milking room Alfa Laval 2x4 herringbone, and the remaining three farms through pipeline milking machine. Milk samples from udder quarters reacted with ++ and +++ pluses (increased somatic cell count) at California mastitis test (CMT) were taken for microbiological investigation. In the study are included 157 dairy cows (623 udder quarters) from first to fifth lactation, with average annual milk yield of 5500-6500 liter and to the 150-th day of lactation. The lowest share of mastitis was determined for the dairy farm A (22%), followed by farm B (26%), farm D (43,3%) and farm C (60,5%). For the distribution of intramammary infection’s (subclinical mastitis, latent infection and clinical mastitis) was established that their level in the Farm A (10.11%) is statistically significant (P<0.03) compare to Farm B (18%), and Farm D (29.1%) compare to Farm C (50%) statistically significant at p < 0.001. The highest relative share in the investigated quarters was established for the S. аureus (6.90% and 26.38%), followed by Сoagulase negative staphylococci (6.26% and 23.92%); C. bovis (4.17% and 15.96%); S. uberis (3.85% and 14.72%); S. agalactiae (2.56% and 9.82%); and for S. dysgalactiae (1.44% and 5.52%).

Keywords: clinical and subclinical mastitis; CMT; CNS; dairy cows; S. аureus

Date published: 2023-03-06