INCIDENCE OF SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS IN COWS OF PERI URBAN AREAS OF HYDERABAD.

Total 492 quarter milk samples from 123 animals were screened for sub clinical mastitis (SCM) by California mastitis test (CMT) and recorded animal-wise, quarter-wise incidence as 63.41 and 25.61 percent, respectively. Age-wise incidence was highest in animals aged between 5-7 years followed by animals 3-5 years, < 3 years and least in the animals aged more than 7 years. Further, the highest incidence of SCM was recorded in crossbred cows compared to native breeds. Animal wise incidence in relation to lactation number showed highest during the fourth lactation followed by fifth, second and third lactation and least in the first lactation and quarter wise incidence in relation to lactation number showed highest during the fifth lactation followed by forth, second and third lactation and least in the first lactation. Similarly, the animal-wise incidence of SCM has increased according to the stage of lactation as early, mid and late lactations. The incidence of SCM was highest in left-hind quarters followed by right-fore quarters and least in both left-fore and right-hind quarters by taking a single quarter into consideration. The highest and equal proportion of incidence was recorded both in left quarters and fore-quarters and whereas, lowest with an equal proportion of incidents reported in both right quarters and hind quarters. Quarter-wise distribution of SCM was decreased as numbers of quarters considered were increased with regard to a single quarter, two quarters, three quarters and all four quarters incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]