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Udder and Teat Morphometry in Association to Sub-Clinical Mastitis in Dairy Cattle and Buffaloes

. Muhammad Asfand Yar Asghar, Farrah Deeba, Anas Sarwar Qureshi, Muhammad Adil, Muhammad Huzaifah Khalid Muhammad Bilal, Muhammad Usman, Sulaman Haider, Waseem Hasan, Shahid Iqbal, Muhammad Kashif Ismail and Osama Ahmad


Abstract

Dairy farming is an essential part of Pakistan's economy contributing significantly to the country’s total milk production. Abundant cattle milk production has made it the most widely consumed milk around the World. However, mastitis is the inflammation in which the parenchymal cells of the mammary gland are involved. Visual assessment of udder and teat morphological characteristics is a valuable tool in selecting animals with desirable traits for mastitis-free conditions and optimal milk production. In this study udder and teat morphological traits were measured and recorded. Additional factors like breed, age, parity, and lactation stage were assessed to find their relationship with subclinical mastitis. Similarly milk composition analysis, milk minerals (calcium and magnesium) and standard plate was also determined to determine their concentration in healthy and subclinical mastitis cow. Pendulous shaped udder, globular shaped udder, pear shaped teats and funnel shaped teats showed higher level of somatic cell counts. Pearson correlation was utilized to study the impact of udder morphometry on clinical mastitis. Statistical analysis showed a strong positive correlation of subclinical mastitis with udder length, teat length, teat diameter, parity, age and standard plate count. Whereas moderate to weak positive correlation was seen in udder width, udder depth, difference between left and right teat, difference between front and rear teat, and lactation stage. Whereas milk production showed a strong negative correlation with subclinical mastitis. The result of milk analysis shows that the milk fat, lactose, calcium level, and magnesium level had a strong negative correlation with subclinical mastitis. Whereas SNF (solid not fat) showed a weak negative correlation with subclinical mastitis. Protein level showed a non-significant positive correlation with subclinical mastitis.

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