PREVALENCE OF SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS IN CATTLE IN AND AROUND UDAIPUR DISTRICT OF RAJASTHAN.

Subclinical mastitis is subtle and more difficult to detect. Subclinical mastitis usually remains unnoticed because the milk and udder appear normal. Therefore, knowledge of regular physical examination of the udder and diagnostic screening tests for early detection of mastitis and proper treatment of the affected animals is one of the paramount importance to minimize losses encountered due to subclinical as well as clinical mastitis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in apparently healthy cattle in and around the Udaipur District of Rajasthan. A total of 769 milk samples from functional quarters of 200 apparently healthy lactating cows collected in and around Udaipur city were screened for subclinical mastitis by California mastitis test and somatic cell count test. The overall animal-wise prevalence based on CMT was 68.5% (137/200) and quarter-wise prevalence was 31.73% (244/769) in cattle. Animal-wise prevalence based on somatic cell count (>500,000/ml) of milk was recorded in 47.50% (95/200), whereas 20.02% (154/769) of the quarters were positive in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]