Abstract
Mammary gland quarters of 139 lactating dairy cows from small-scale dairy herds were examined visually and by palpation for teat lesions and by California mastitis test (CMT) and bacterial culture for subclinical mastitis. Teat lesions were observed in 97 teats. These included teat chaps (39.2%), teat papillomas (23.7%), teat erosions (22.7%), teat fistulae (5.1%), inverted teats (5.1%) and blocked teats (4.2%). According to the CMT, the prevalence of subclinical mastitis was 33.4% in all the mammary gland quarters, 71.0% in quarters with teat lesions and 24.5% in quarters without teat lesions. There was a significant (P < 0.01) association between teat lesions and the prevalence of subclinical mastitis. The mammary gland quarters with teat lesions were 7.2 times more likely to have a positive CMT (P < 0.01) and 5.6 times more likely to have bacterial organisms (P < 0.01) isolated from them than those without any teat lesions. The bacterial organisms most frequently isolated from the CMT-positive milk samples from both the mammary gland quarters with teat lesions and those without teat lesions were Staphylococcus aureus (50.0%), Streptococcus spp. (34.8%) and Arcanobacterium pyogenes (6.2%).
Highlights
IntroductionThere are many small-scale farms that practise mixed farming, which includes keeping of dairy animals and growing of food and cash crops
In Kenya, and especially in KiambuDistrict, there are many small-scale farms that practise mixed farming, which includes keeping of dairy animals and growing of food and cash crops
Of the milk samples from the mammary gland quarters with teat lesions, 71 % (66/93) were California mastitis test (CMT)-positive, and bacterial growth occurred in 51.6 % (48/93)
Summary
There are many small-scale farms that practise mixed farming, which includes keeping of dairy animals and growing of food and cash crops. Seventy percent of the animals are zero-grazed while the other 30 % graze on pastures[7]. These small-scale farms form the backbone of the dairy industry in this area as they provide 75–90 % of all the milk sold[12]. The marketing of the milk from these farms is mainly through cooperative societies. The cooperative societies, in addition to marketing the milk, provide credit facilities, either in cash or in feed supplements to the farmers
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