Epidemiological study on mastitis in holstein friesian cattle on organized farm in Jammu, India.

The current study was carried out with an aim to determine the epidemiological factors responsible for mastitis in dairy cattle and generating epidemiological data on this important disease in an organized cattle farm in Jammu. Screening was done on 100 randomly selected animals. A questionnaire was framed and completed with detailed management practices, including the risk factors like age, parity and lactation number along with the management practices. The samples were screened using Modified California Mastitis Test (MCMT), Somatic Cell Count (SCC). Management practices and detailed questionnaire revealed the high risk groups. The prevalence of clinical and subclinical practices was found to be 43% (SCM: 41% and CM: 2%). Further, the highest prevalence of sub clinical mastitis was found in cattle belonging to groups; 8 to 10 years age (40%); in 5th to 7th month lactation stage (36%) and 3rd to 6th parity (38.8%) whereas clinical mastitis showed highest prevalence in 2-7 year old (2.4%); 5th to 7th month lactation stage (4%) and 3rd to 4th parity (2.7%) groups. A significant (p<0.05) difference in Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) was observed between control and subclinical and clinical cases. MCMT proved to be an important screening test in the field conditions. Managemental practices and risk factors contribute to the occurrence of disease. Preventive and control measures need to be adopted strictly to reduce the disease in animals.