Dr M.Q. Bilal, Dr M.S. Sajid and Dr M.U. Iqbal

MASTITIS is inflammation in the mammary gland. It is most common and costly disease and has been ranked number one among major diseases of dairy animals in Pakistan. The disease is one of the limiting factors in the development of the dairy industry. Despite an annual production of over 27.5 million tons of fresh milk from 23.4 million cattle and 24.8 million heads of buffaloes, the country is facing an acute shortage of milk supply in major urban areas. Around $16 millions worth of dry milk is imported every year.

Besides, poor genetic potential, management and nutritional deficiencies sub-optimal health of milch animals, i.e., mastitis is responsible for the shortfall. Both cattle and buffalo contribute 95 per cent of milk production and both species are susceptible to mastitis.

The disease is caused by a wide variety of the micro-organisms, including bacteria, fungi, yeast and mycoplasma. However, bacteria are the most frequent pathogens in mastitis. There are two forms, clinical and sub-clinical - a more dangerous type.

Economic losses: The economic loss due to mortality is negligible. However, production losses due to low quality/quantity, destruction of affected quarters, charges of treatment and culling are tremendous. In the US, these losses come to $2 billion, each year. The disease affects consumer and processor, equally. The milk of the diseased animal is likely to contain organisms potentially pathogenic to humans.

Processing of such milk results in substandard products like yogurt, cheese, etc. Mastitis also decreases the reproduction process.

Pre-disposing factors: Certain factors play a leading role in increasing the incidence of sub-clinical mastitis in cows and buffaloes. These are milk let down, method of milking, floor conditions and animal preparation before milking. Results indicate that the incidences of sub-clinical mastitis are high in animals milked with the folded thumb, milk let down done through calves, and improper washing. Clean Katcha or cemented floor with proper bedding material reduces the incidence of mastitis.

Mastitis control programme: Controlling mastitis involves a number of steps referred as a control programme. It should be controlled through management practices such as teat dipping and vaccination are undertaken at modern dairy farms. An early diagnosis of infection has been standardized. It is easy to perform even in the field conditions for diagnosing the presence and severity of infection. The role of monovalent vaccine has also been reviewed. Preventing infection and development of an inflammatory response to get rid of infection quickly are ideal achievements of a mastitis vaccine. In Pakistan, hand milking is a common practice and contagious pathogen Staphylococcus aureus has been found the most prevalent mastitogen.

The following control package is recommended for farmers.

Keep floors clean and dry. Provide proper bedding material such as sand, clay, sawdust, dry manure, waste straws or waste fodder. Uneven floors are harmful. The wet and soiled bedding should be replaced. The material can be used after drying.

Wash thoroughly the teats and udder with clean water to remove soil, manure and mastitis causing bacteria. The udder and teats should be dried properly with clean cloth or towel to remove the bacterial residues on wet skin. Excess water left on the udder/teats is loaded with bacteria, runs down into the milking utensil and results in a high bacterial count and reduces the milk quality. Thus, wet milking should be avoided at all costs.

For milk let down, offer concentrate to the animal and start to adopt two-point formula (teat/udder/washing and drying). This will stimulate milk let down. The calf for milk let down is not recommended because it is harmful in two ways. Firstly, calf may be underfed or overfed.

Secondly, they damage the teats by injury through teeth. If it is very necessary to use calf for milk let down, then separate the calf’s mouth from teats by inserting finger to avoid injury.

Milking should be done with full hand i.e., without folded thumb. Animals with healthy udder should be milked first and the infected, at last.

Any injury on teats and udder must be treated immediately.

After each milking, teats should be dipped in one per cent KMnO4 solution. Take the solution in a cup and dip the entire teat at least for 30 seconds, one by one. This dip cup must be clean and disinfected.

All teats must be checked for sub-clinical mastitis routinely by performing white side test as described in materials and methods. The surf test can be used for this purpose. (Make three per cent solution of any washing powder. Take equal volume of test solution and milk, gently stir and see any change. If there is any clot/flake formation, the teat is positive for mastitis). If you are doing teat dipping regularly, many positive cases will become negative. If any quarter remains positive, then consult for treatment.

Prompt treatment is imperative for successful mastitis package. The animals with chronic mastitis may be culled if possible because they are not economical to keep.

Milking of lactation (before drying off), infuse one mm syringe in each teat.