Sub-clinical mastitis and associated risk factors on lactating cows in the Savannah Region of Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundSub-clinical mastitis limits milk production and represents an important barrier to profitable livestock economics worldwide. Milk production from cows in Nigeria is not at optimum levels in view of many factors including sub-clinical mastitis.ResultsThe overall herd-level prevalence rate for SCM was 85.33% (256/300 heads of cows) while the quarter-level prevalence rate of SCM was 43.25% (519/1,200 quarters). The prevalence of SCM was 50.67%, 43.67%, 39.67% and 39.13% for the left fore-quarter, right hind-quarter, left hind-quarter and right fore-quarter, respectively. The Rahaji breed had the highest prevalence of SCM with 65.91% (29/44), while the White Fulani breed had the least with 32.39% (57/176). A total of 32.33% (97/300) had only one mammary quarter affected, 30.33% (91/300) had two quarters affected, 16.00% (48/300) had three quarters affected while 6.67% (20/300) had all the four quarters affected. A total of 53.00% had SCM in multiple quarters (159/300). The risk of SCM decreased significantly among young lactating cows compared to older animals (OR = 0.283; P < 0.001; 95%CI = 0.155; 0.516). The Rahaji breed had significantly higher risk compared with the White Fulani breed (OR = 8.205; P = 0.013; 95% CI = 1.557; 43.226). Improved sanitation (washing hands before milking) will decrease the risk of SCM (OR = 0.173; P = 0.003; 95% CI = 0.054; 0.554).ConclusionSCM is prevalent among lactating cows in the Nigerian Savannah; and this is associated with both animal characteristics (age, breed and individual milk quarters) and milking practices (hand washing).Good knowledge of the environment and careful management of the identified risk factors with improved sanitation should assist farm managers and veterinarians in implementing preventative programmes to reduce the incidence of SCM.

Isolation, identifications and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of coagulase positive <i>Staphylococcus</i> from subclinical mastitic dairy cattle in and around Haramaya University

“…Age wise the present study indicate significantly (P <0.05) higher CPS infection at advanced age which is in agreement with the finding of Rigbe Haftu et al, (2012). This is probably due to prolonged period of exposure to the infecting organisms and predisposing factors like stress of lactation which favor dilation of teat canal due to repeat milking thereby facilitating the entry of pathogens into the teat canal to cause subclinical intramammary infection (Shittu et al, 2012).…”

Occurrence of bovine mastitis and isolation of <i>Staphyloccocus</i> species from fresh cow milk in settled Fulani herds in Kaduna State, Nigeria

“…This is comparable with the reports of Ameh et al (1999), but differ with the 44.9% and 43.25% overall quarter prevalence reported by Mekibib et al (2010) and Shittu et al (2012) in Holeta town, Central Ethiopia and Savannah region of Nigeria respectively. The traditional method and protocol of milking cows was the method practiced in all the herds sampled, thus milking hygiene was generally poor in the majority of the farms sampled.…”

“…The prevalence of clinical mastitis at cow level was 26.9% (n=97) (Table 1), the prevalence of subclinical mastitis as detected by CMT was 23.9% while that of the clinical mastitis is 3.1% (Table 1). The prevalence in the present study is lower than the 52% reported by Junaidu et al (2011) in Sokoto, Nigeria, 85.33% by Shittu et al (2012) in the Savannah region of Nigeria, 30.9% by Suleiman et al (2013) in Plateau Sate, Nigeria and 71.0% by Mekibib et al (2010) in Ethiopia.…”

Epidemiology and Financial Impact of Bovine Mastitis in an Animal Production and Research Center and Small Holder Dairy Farms in HoroGuduru Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia

“…The high prevalence of the disease in older animals related to the physiology of threat canal which is more dilated and remains partially open due to years of repeated milking. This facilitates the entrance of environmental and skin-associated microorganisms leading clinical or sub clinical mastitis [3,18]. Blowey & Edmondson [4] also reported the high occurrence of mastitis in older aged cows compared to young and adult cattle.…”