Abstract
The aim of this study was to develop a new method of mastitis diagnosis. The study was carried out on 14 highly productive dairy cows of Holstein-Friesian breed. The animals were divided into two groups. The first clinical group consisted of 7 animals with confirmed mastitis. The second control group consisted of 7 mastitis-free animals. Mastitis was confirmed by clinical examination, California Mastitis Test, and bacteriological examination of the milk. The recording of spontaneous myoelectrical activity of the udder was followed by the registration of the voltage of the electrical current passed through the udder using EMS (electrical muscle stimulator). An increase of 540% in the amplitude of spontaneous spike potentials recorded in the mastitis-changed udder compared to the healthy udder was noted. Simultaneously, a decrease of 54% in the voltage of current generated by the electrical muscle stimulator passed through the mastitis-changed udder compared to the healthy udder was observed. The method of diagnosing mastitis in dairy cows shown in this study can be an alternative to California Mastitis Test because of its simplicity, velocity and inexpensiveness.
Highlights
An increase of 540% in the amplitude of spontaneous spike potentials recorded in the mastitischanged udder compared to the healthy udder was noted
The spontaneous electrical activity of the mammary gland of the mean amplitude of 457 ± 147 μV can be recorded from the surface of the udder
It confirms our previous study on spontaneous electrical activity of the mammary gland and on the stimulating effect of manual and mechanical milking on this activity (Czerski et al 2013)
Summary
The aim of this study was to develop a new method of mastitis diagnosis
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