Udders Of Cows Research Articles

A New Way to Identify Mastitis in Cows Using Artificial Intelligence

Mastitis is a disease that is considered an obstacle in dairy farming. Some methods of diagnosing mastitis have been used effectively over the years, but with an associated relative cost that reduces the producer’s profit. In this context, this sector needs tools that offer an early, safe, and non-invasive diagnosis and that direct the producer to apply resources to confirm the clinical picture, minimizing the cost of monitoring the herd. The objective of this study was to develop a predictive methodology based on sequential knowledge transfer for the automatic detection of bovine subclinical mastitis using computer vision. The image bank used in this research consisted of 165 images, each with a resolution of 360 × 360 pixels, sourced from a database of 55 animals diagnosed with subclinical mastitis, all of which were not exhibiting clinical symptoms at the time of imaging. The images utilized in the sequential learning transfer were those of MammoTherm, which is used for the detection of breast cancer in women. The optimized model demonstrated the most optimal network performance, achieving 92.1% accuracy, in comparison to the model with manual search (86.1%). The proposed predictive methodologies, based on knowledge transfer, were effective in accurately classifying the images. This significantly enhanced the automatic detection of both healthy animals and those diagnosed with subclinical mastitis using thermal images of the udders of dairy cows.

Determining the force parameters of the working process to clean the udder nipples of cows

The object of this study is the force parameters of the working process when cleaning the udder nipples of cows from contamination. Failure to provide adequate care for a cow, especially concerning its udder, could lead to significant health and productivity problems. On the other hand, utilizing modern tools, devices, and materials could improve the sanitary and hygienic conditions for milking cows and udder care, thus leading to better overall outcomes. As part of the research, mathematical expressions were derived theoretically, allowing the determination of the force parameters of the working process for cleaning cows’ udders from contamination by expanding the range of the device’s functional characteristics. Distinctive features of the results regarding the solution to this problem is evaluation of the elasticity force exerted by the lint bundles on the nipple during the rotation of the brush device’s drum and the circular force generated by the brush lint. The developed algorithm of the work process aimed at cleaning the nipples and udders of cows made it possible to combine a set of clearly defined and sequentially performed operations into a single whole. It has been demonstrated that the efforts required to retain different types of contamination on the skin vary significantly. To objectively determine it, a new device has been designed. Its distinctive features are the precision of measurement and simplicity of operation. Following laboratory testing, it was established that the highest contaminant retention forces were exhibited by solid manure (Fret=40±3.21 N), while the lowest values were observed for sawdust (Fret=19±2.17 N) (p ≤ 0.001). The developments are relevant and could be used at cattle breeding farms of various forms of ownership, the scientific community, and at industrial enterprises manufacturing technological equipment.

Unravelling the complexity of bovine milk microbiome: insights into mastitis through enterotyping using full-length 16S-metabarcoding

BackgroundMastitis, inflammation of the mammary gland, is a major disease of dairy cattle and the main cause for antimicrobial use. Although mainly caused by bacterial infections, the aetiological agent often remains unidentified by conventional microbiological culture methods. The aim of this study was to test whether shifts in the bovine mammary gland microbiota can result in initiation or progression of mastitis.MethodsOxford-Nanopore long-read sequencing was used to generate full-length 16S rRNA gene reads (16S-metabarcoding) to characterise the microbial population of milk from healthy and diseased udder of cows classified into five groups based on their mastitis history and parity.ResultsSamples were classified into six enterotypes, each characterised by a marker genus and several differentially-abundant genera. Two enterotypes were exclusively composed of clinical mastitis samples and displayed a marked dysbiosis, with a single pathogenic genus predominating and displacing the endogenous bacterial population. Other mastitis samples (all subclinical and half of the clinical) clustered with those from healthy animals into three enterotypes, probably reflecting intermediate states between health and disease. After an episode of clinical mastitis, clinical recovery and microbiome reconstitution do not always occur in parallel, indicating that the clinical definition of the udder health status does not consistently reflect the microbial profile.ConclusionsThese results show that mastitis is a dynamic process in which the udder microbiota constantly changes, highlighting the complexity of defining a unique microbiota profile indicative of mastitis.

A computer algorithm for scoring cow teats based on udder images

ABSTRACT In this work, we aimed to develop a computer algorithm for detecting and scoring cow teats according to udder images. In addition, by assessing three teat traits, i.e. the length, thickness, and placements, we scored them according to international standards. By applying the algorithm to 71 cows, we were able to detect all four teats in 62 of 71 (85%) cow udder images, and differentiate the front and rear teats in 56 of 62 (92%) udder images. Based on the three teat traits, we scored the teats of 56 cows. The final teat score was given by averaging the three scores for each cow. We discuss the limitations of the algorithm, and also the issues with teat conformation and image-taking itself, e.g. teats not facing perpendicular to the camera. In conclusion, we have developed the first computerised teat scoring system based on cow udder images. Further improvements require tuning parameters of the workflow and the image-taking process.

Deep-learning classification of teat-end conditions in Holstein cattle

As a means of preventing mastitis, deep learning for classifying teat-end conditions in dairy cows has not yet been optimized. By using 1426 digital images of dairy cow udders, the extent of teat-end hyperkeratosis was assessed using a four-point scale. Several deep-learning networks based on the transfer learning approach have been used to evaluate the conditions of the teat ends displayed in the digital images. The images of the teat ends were partitioned into training (70 %) and validation datasets (15 %); afterwards, the network was evaluated based on the remaining test dataset (15 %). The results demonstrated that eight different ImageNet models consistently achieved high accuracy (80.3–86.6 %). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the normal, smooth, rough, and very rough classification scores in the test data set ranged from 0.825 to 0.999. Thus, improved accuracy in image-based classification of teat tissue conditions in dairy cattle using deep learning requires more training images. This method could help farmers reduce the risks of intramammary infections, decrease the use of antimicrobials, and better manage costs associated with mastitis detection and treatment.

The Accurate and Exclusive Quantification of Somatic Cells in Raw Milk with an OPD-Cu2+ System-Based Colorimetric Method.

The somatic cell count (SCC) refers to the number of somatic cells present in each milliliter of raw milk and serves as a crucial indicator of dairy cow udder health and raw milk quality. Traditional SCC detection methods are often time-consuming, expensive, and susceptible to bacterial interference, rendering them unsuitable for the rapid and unbiased assessment of raw milk quality. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a low-cost, accurate, and user-friendly SCC quantification method. Here, a method based on an OPD-Cu2+ system for SCC quantification was developed. It was found that OPD oxidation signals exhibited a linear correlation with SCC. Following optimization, the detection system was established with a Cu2+ concentration of 25 μM, an OPD concentration of 2 mM, and an incubation time of 15 min. Furthermore, the method demonstrated significant resistance to bacterial interference, though it produced weaker signals in response to bacteria. The somatic cell recovery rate in milk after pretreatment was 88.9%, and SCC was quantified accurately within 45 min, with a linear range of 104-106 cells/mL. In summary, the method developed is cost-effective, straightforward, and facilitates precise somatic cell quantification, offering significant practical value and a new approach for SCC detection in raw milk.

Body type and morphological indicators of the udder of red-motley cows in the Republic of Khakassia

Relevance. Creating a highly productive dairy herd of cattle, characterized by good health and a long service life, suitable for industrial milk production technology, is impossible without a systematic assessment of animals based on the exterior and morphofunctional properties of the udder.Methods. The research was carried out in 2023 in the breeding reproducer of “Tselinnoye” LLC, Shirinsky district. The exterior was studied in cows of the first, second, third and older lactation, as well as on the herd average by measuring body measurements and calculating body composition indices. The assessment of the morphological properties of the udder of the studied cows was carried out at 2–3 months of lactation, 1–1.5 hours before milking.Results. In terms of the size of the exterior measurements, red-motley cows correspond to the indicators of the desired type (on average for the herd, height at the withers is 136.15 cm, chest depth is 74.60 cm, chest width is 43.83 cm, chest girth is 198.45 cm, oblique length of the body — 159.57 cm, width at the hip joints — 53.50 cm, at the hip joints — 50.58 cm, oblique length of the butt — 53.55 cm, semi-circumference of the butt — 107.20 cm, metacarpus circumference — 19.54 cm), according to body indexes, they are characterized by a milk-meat body type (extension index — 117.25%, chest — 58.78%, hip-thoracic — 82.07%, tightness — 124.54%). The udder measurements are quite large (length — 44.48 cm, width — 34.42 cm, girth — 136.45 cm, depth of the anterior lobe — 31.72 cm, posterior — 31.30 cm), however, it is necessary to improve the uniformity of size and location nipples through selection for this trait.

Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Staphylococcus species isolated from raw cow milk, and swabs in smallholder dairy farms in Meta district, Eastern Ethiopia

BackgroundThe safety of milk production in terms of foodborne infections is a worldwide issue, particularly in developing countries where production is often unhygienic. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2018 to August 2019 in the Meta District of Eastern Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. We aim to assess milk hygiene practices among smallholder dairy farmers, estimate the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in raw cow milk and swabs, assess associated risk factors, and the antimicrobial susceptibility test of S. aureus isolates. Face-to-face interviews with 30 respondents randomly selected from smallholder dairy farmers were used to assess the potential risk factors for S. aureus contaminations in milk. A total of 177 samples were examined using standard microbiological testing. The disc diffusion technique was also employed to assess the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates. The data was analyzed using STATA® version 14.0 statistical software.ResultsAccording to the milk hygiene assessment, 80% of respondents did not wash cow udder before milking, did not use detergent to clean milk containers, and did not keep milk refrigerated before consumption or sale, while 63.3% of milk consumers ingested raw milk. They had never heard of staphylococci foodborne disease. Likewise, the overall prevalence of S. aureus was 12.42% (95%CI: 8.32–18.98). The prevalence of S. aureus in udder milk, equipment swabs, and milkers’ hands was 18.8%, 26.7%, and 30%, respectively. The prevalence of S. aureus in milk is significantly associated with age, and mastitis history (p < 0.05). Moreover, old and mastitis positive animals were eight (OR: 8.40; 95%CI: 1.68–41.89) and four (OR: 4.33; 95%CI: 1.37–13.66) times more likely to be infected by S. aureus than adult, and mastitis negative animal. The isolates were resistant to penicillin G (97.4%) and tetracycline (69.2%) whereas susceptible to kanamycin, streptomycin, vancomycin, and cefotaxime, at 84.6%, 71.8%, 64%, and 58.8%, respectively.ConclusionThis study revealed the presence of antimicrobial-resistant patterns of S. aureus on commonly used antibiotics, as well as inadequate milk handling practices in the study area. Thus, awareness should be created on proper milk handling and hygiene as well as appropriate uses of antibiotics should be encouraged.

Bacterial Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance of Microorganisms Isolated from Teat Cup Liners in Dairy Farms in Shandong Province, China.

Global milk consumption exceeds 800 million tons a year and is still growing. Milk quality and its products are critical to human health. A teat cup makes direct contact with the cow's teats during milking and its cleanliness is very important for the quality of raw milk. In this study, the microorganism from post-milking teat cup liners were collected from six dairy farms in Shandong Province of China, the bacterial species were identified using microbial mass spectrometry, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the isolated strains against ten antimicrobial agents were determined using the broth microdilution method, and the antimicrobial resistance genes were detected by PCR. The results indicated that the most frequently isolated bacteria in this study were Bacillus licheniformis (39/276, 14.13%), followed by Bacillus pumilus (20/276, 7.25%), Bacillus cereus (17/276, 6.16%), and Bacillus subtili (16/276, 5.80%). The isolates exhibited the highest average resistance to lincomycin (87.37%), followed by sulfadiazine (61.05%) and streptomycin (42.63%); the highest detection rate of resistance genes was Sul1 (55.43%), followed by ant(4') (51.09%), tet(M) (25.36%), blaKPC (3.62%) and qnrS (3.62%). These findings imply the necessity for enhanced measures in disinfecting cow udders and milking equipment, highlighting the persistently challenging issue of antimicrobial resistance in Shandong Province.

The prevalence and factors associated with mastitis in dairy cows kept by small-scale farmers in Dodoma, Tanzania

Bovine mastitis is among the major diseases of economic importance in the dairy industry worldwide. Hygienic conditions during milking and housing are important determinants of mastitis infections. However, arid and semi-arid areas have a scarcity of water, which is an essential component of cleanliness. Thus, the study determined the prevalence of mastitis and associated factors in Dodoma, a semi-arid region in Tanzania. Three hundred and sixty-eight lactating cows were selected randomly from 114 farms in the Dodoma urban district for mastitis determination based on clinical signs and the California Mastitis Test. About 59.8 % of the cows had mastitis, and the subclinical type dominated. Factors associated with mastitis prevalence were cleanliness (hand and udder washing before milking), farmers' awareness of mastitis, the cow's parity and lactation stage, and herd size. Milk yield was not associated with the mastitis status of the cow but was related to the breed of the cow, whether warm or cold water was used to wash the cow's udder, parity, and lactation stage. Improvement in education on the importance of hygiene is necessary, as 38.6 % of the farmers were unaware of mastitis. Further detailed studies on microbiology, such as bacteriologic culture and polymerase chain reaction, are recommended to formulate interventions.

Natural sanitizers pre- and post-milking in the prevention of bovine mastitis

Approaches focused on improving animal health are essential strategies to increase the quality and productivity of the livestock sector. Bovine mastitis is a prevalent disease in dairy farming worldwide. There are various ways to prevent infections and mammary inflammation in cows, such as using sanitizers or disinfectants before and after milking to clean the cow's udder surface and reduce contamination. Chlorine-based disinfectants are commonly used, and in some cases, antibiotics are used to prevent mastitis. This review aimed to analyze scientific articles that used plants as a sanitizer for a cow's udder in the last 5 years. There were few records of experiments with plants for disinfecting cows' udders; a total of 10 articles and 12 plant species were mentioned, including twice Piper betle and Acacia nilotica. Among the classes of metabolites indicated as active are terpenoids, flavonoids, and tannins. Studies indicate that plant extracts exhibit antimicrobial properties. Plant-based disinfectants promote sustainable and environmentally friendly sanitation in the livestock production sector, as these products are biodegradable and renewable.

Influence of the season on the main components of cow milk in Ukraine

The quality of dairy products depends on the safety and quality of raw materials, therefore, the analysis of physicochemical and sanitary indicators of raw cow milk is of great importance. The composition of bulk milk of three technological groups of cows: early lactation (5–60 days in milk), primiparous cows and all other cows starting from the second lactation was studied according to seasons. Regardless of the group of animals, the fat content in bulk milk was significantly lower in summer than in other seasons of the year, and the highest in winter. In each group of animals, the lowest somatic cell count was observed in the fall, while the highest indicator of the study of bulk milk of cows in early lactation and primiparous was determined in the winter, and in the spring of cows from the second lactation. The lowest milk urea content in all groups of animals was noted in summer. The lowest protein level was observed in autumn (3.27 ± 0.11%), and the highest in winter (3.39 ± 0.11%) in the bulk milk of cows in early lactation. The ratio of fat to protein in summer 1.12 ± 0.03 was significantly lower compared to other seasons of the year. The highest level of somatic cells was recorded in this group in winter (290 ± 82 * 103 cells/mL), which was twice as much as in autumn (141 ± 54 * 103 cells/mL), and by 56.8% more than in summer (185 ± 39 * 103 cells/mL). The milk urea content in the summer was 194.0 ± 17.6 mg/kg, which is significantly lower than the indicators in other seasons of the year in the group of early lactation. In the summer period, the lowest protein content (3.23 ± 0.06%) in the bulk milk of primiparous cows was observed compared to other seasons of the year. The winter was characterized by the highest level of somatic cell count in milk (221 ± 49 * 103 cells/mL), which was almost twice as high as the autumn period (116 ± 31 * 103 cells/mL). The highest urea content in the milk of primiparous cows was found in autumn (228.6 ± 21.9 mg/kg), which exceeded the summer figure by 14.5%. The lowest protein content (3.29 ± 0.06%) and the highest in winter (3.44 ± 0.09%) was observed in the bulk milk of cows of the second lactation and older. The somatic cell count in milk in autumn (160 ± 69 * 103 cells/mL) was lower than the winter and spring indicators by 37.5% and 49.3%, respectively. The milk urea content in the summer (198 ± 22 mg/kg) was significantly lower than the autumn and winter indicators. In further studies, to improve the sanitary quality of milk, it is planned to use different hygienic means for processing the udder of cows depending on the season.

Modulation of the Standing Behavior for Managing Elevated Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in Dairy Cows

Aim: To examine the effect of feed-offer time on standing and lying behaviors to manage Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and reduce risk of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in tie stall dairy cows. Study Design: Completely Randomized Design (5 treatments × 4 replications) Place and Duration of the Study: National Cow Research Program, Chitwan, Nepal; from September, 2019 to March, 2020 for 180 days. Methodology: Twenty SCM-free dairy cows were recruited on different feeding strategies (pre-milking, during milking, and post-milking feeding at varying intervals). Behavioral patterns (lying time, bout frequencies and duration, post-milking standing duration/PMSD) were obtained using pedometer and SCC by autoanalyzer fortnightly. The feeding strategy effect on behavioral outlines and SCC was analyzed for univariate ANOVA by SPSS packages (version 25). The relationship between behavioral patterns and SCC were performed by Pearsons Correlation analysis. Results: Immediate post-milking feeding (+iPMF) cows showed higher lying time (P=.003) and bout duration (P=.001) while the number of lying bout was higher (P=.001) in pre-milking feeding (-10PMF). The PMSD was logged higher (P=.001) in +iPMF than in -10PMF and during-milking feeding cows but was similar with other post-milking feeding groups. Additionally, immediate and 15-minute post-milking feeding (+15PMF) resulted significantly lower SCC at both teat (P=.001, .005) and udder levels (P=.001) and are consistently associated with longer standing time after milking, suggesting decreased risk of SCM. Furthermore, post-milking standing duration showed significant but negative relationship with SCC of fore teats (P=.001; r=-0.26) and at udder level (P=.001; r=-0.298) while it was negative and non-significant with hind teats (r=-0.09 in LH and r=-0.06 in RH). Conclusion: Post-milking feeding strategies, +iPMF and +15PMF, have the potential to improve dairy cow welfare and udder health by modulating behavioral patterns and reducing SCC. Further research is needed to optimize management practices for maximizing dairy cow welfare and udder health.

Genetic parameters for udder conformation traits derived from Cartesian coordinates generated by robotic milking systems in North American Holstein cattle

Udder conformation is directly related to milk yield, cow health, workability, and welfare. Automatic milking systems (AMS, also known as milking robots) have become popular worldwide, and the number of dairy farms adopting these systems has increased considerably over the past years. In each milking visit, AMS record the location of the 4 teats as Cartesian coordinates in an xyz plan, which can then be used to derive udder conformation traits. Because AMS generate a large amount of data for individual cows per milking visit, they can contribute to an accurate assessment of important traits such as udder conformation without the addition of human classifier errors (in subjective scoring systems). Therefore, the primary objectives of this study were to estimate genomic-based genetic parameters for udder conformation traits derived from AMS records in North American Holstein cattle and to assess the genetic correlation between the derived traits for evaluating the feasibility of multitrait genomic selection for breeding cows that are more suitable for milking in AMS. The Cartesian teat coordinates measured during each milking visit were collected by 36 milking robots in 4,480 Holstein cows from 2017 to 2021, resulting in 5,317,488 records. A total of 4,118 of these Holstein cows were also genotyped for 57,600 SNPs. Five udder conformation traits were derived: udder balance (UB, mm), udder depth (UD, mm), front teat distance (FTD, mm), rear teat distance (RTD, mm), and distance front-rear (DFR, mm). In addition, 2 traits directly related to cow productivity in the system were added to the study: daily milk yield (DY) and milk electroconductivity (EC; as an indicator of mastitis). Variance components and genetic parameters for UB, UD, FTD, RTD, DFR, DY, and EC were estimated based on repeatability animal models. The estimates of heritability (± SE) for UB, UD, FTD, RTD, DFR, DY, and EC were 0.41 ± 0.02, 0.79 ± 0.01, 0.53 ± 0.02, 0.40 ± 0.02, 0.65 ± 0.02, 0.20 ± 0.02, and 0.46 ± 0.02, respectively. The repeatability estimates (± SE) for UB, UD, FTD, RTD, and DFR were 0.82 ± 0.01, 0.93 ± 0.01, 0.87 ± 0.01, 0.83 ± 0.01, and 0.88 ± 0.01, respectively. The strongest genetic correlations were observed between FTD and RTD (0.54 ± 0.03), UD and DFR (-0.47 ± 0.03), DFR and FTD (0.32 ± 0.03), and UD and FTD (-0.31 ± 0.03). These results suggest that udder conformation traits derived from Cartesian coordinates from AMS are moderately to highly heritable. Furthermore, the moderate genetic correlations between these traits should be considered when developing selection subindexes. The most relevant genetic correlations between traits related to cow milk productivity and udder conformation traits were between UD and EC (-0.25 ± 0.03) and between DFR and DY (0.30 ± 0.04), in which both genetic correlations are favorable. These findings will contribute to the design of genomic selection schemes for improving udder conformation in North American Holstein cattle, especially in precision dairy farms.

Experimental studies of a remote device for biometric identification of the pre-mastitis state of the udder of dairy cows

Analysis of development of dairy cattle breeding in the Republic of Belarus is presented. The problems of reducing milk productivity and the period of economic use of dairy cows as a result of mastitis disease are noted. The importance of timely detection of sick animals, as well as treatment of the inflammatory process of the udder in the early stages is noted. The results of theoretical and experimental studies of a mock-up sample of a biometric identification device for the pre-mastitis state of udder of dairy cows are presented. In the course of experimental studies, a significant influence of ambient temperature on the thermal imaging picture was revealed, based on which the values of the radiation coefficient for cows were determined. The final adjustment of the previously established temperature ranges was made when determining one or another form of mastitis, namely, within 32.0−36.3 ℃ – the range of normal temperatures, 36.4−37.7 ℃ – “Subclinical mastitis”, 37.8−39.0 ℃ – “Clinical mastitis”. The most significant factors and optimization parameter have been determined. The percentage of the useful area of the studied object is selected as the optimization parameter. Based on the processing of experimental data, a mathematical model is obtained, described by a regression equation in the form of a polynomial of the second degree. The rational parameters of the device for biometric identification of the pre-mastitis state of the udder of dairy cows were obtained, namely: the angle of inclination of the thermal imaging module αо – 2,7o, the focal length to the object l – 794 mm, installation height of the thermal imaging module h – 495 mm. Also, based on the conducted research, priority areas and opportunities for development of the domestic agro-industrial complex through creation of integrated systems for monitoring the physiological state of animals within the framework of development of digital automated technologies of a “smart” farm have been identified.

Milk yield and quality at udder quarter level are influenced by quarter position, pathogen, and somatic cell score

There is a paucity of information about milk composition and quality at the quarter level from complete milking of the udder, mainly because of the difficulties of sampling procedures which imply the adoption of a vacuum system connected to four independent buckets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of quarter position, intramammary infection status, and somatic cells on milk yield and composition at the mammary quarter level of Simmental cows. Milk samples were collected during three consecutive days, after milking individual mammary quarters of 10 lactating cows separately, for a total of 120 quarter milk samples. Samples were analysed for composition, somatic cell count (SCC), differential SCC, and bacterial culture. Somatic cell count was log-transformed to somatic cell score (SCS) to achieve normality of distribution. Sources of variation of milk yield and quality traits were investigated using a linear mixed model which included the fixed effects of quarter position (1 to 4), pathogen presence (positive or negative), and SCS class (low, medium-low, medium-high, and high). The interaction between cow and quarter position was included as random effect. Quarter position significantly affected milk yield, with rear udder quarters yielding more milk compared to their front counterparts, but with negligible effects on milk composition. Classes of SCS influenced milk composition, in a way that quarters with high SCS had lower lactose content and higher differential SCC. This study is a contribution towards the possibility to better understand physiological processes at cow udder quarter level.

Prevalence and analysis of risk factors of udder and teat health disorders in free-grazing and zero-grazing small holder dairy cows in south wollo, Ethiopia

Udder and teat health disorders (UTHDs) cause profound economic loss and have a major influence on dairy cows’ welfare and productivity. This study was carried out to identify the prevalence and risk factors of UTHDs and to investigate a potential association with clinical mastitis (CM). The prevalence of UTHDs in this study was 28.4%. The UTHDs identified were CM (15.1%), teat ulcer/cracks (7.6%), udder wound (7.3%), teat end lesions (3.1%), teat papilloma (2.6%), pendulous udder (2.3%), hyperthelia (1.6%), athelia (1.0%), udder abscess (1.0%), teat stenosis (0.8%), teat gangrene (0.8%) and udder impetigo (0.8%). A significantly higher prevalence of UTHDs was identified in Holstein-Friesian (HF) cross breeds (P &lt; 0.001; OR = 0.134) than indigenous breeds; in cows between 4-5 years of age (P &lt; 0.001; OR = 11.666) compared to &gt; 7 years; in cows with good BCS (P = 0.007; OR = 0.263) than those with poor BCS and in milking (P &lt; 0.001; OR = 4.682) and dry cows (P = 0.003; OR = 4.226) than pregnant cows. Prevalence did not differ significantly (P &gt; 0.05) between the locations and management systems of herds. In addition, the occurrence of CM was associated with teat ulcer/cracks (P &lt; 0.001; OR = 0.036), udder wound (P &lt; 0.001; OR = 0.068); teat end lesions (P = 0.008; OR = 0.142); pendulous udder (P = 0.031; OR = 0.153) and udder impetigo (P = 0.040; OR = 0.058). A statistically insignificant difference was found in the prevalence of UTHDs between free-grazing and zero-grazing smallholder dairy herds. The study identifies teat ulcers/cracks, udder wounds, and teat end lesions as risk factors for CM.

Development of the Efficient Scheme of Cow Mastitis Prophylaxis

Introduction. Among many diseases reducing cow milk productivity, mastitis occupies a special place — the milk yield losses due to this widespread infectious disease equal, in average, to 8–15% of the total losses caused by all diseases in cows. Only an integrated approach can ensure achievement of the best results in solving this acute problem. Within the integrated approach, the use of various sanitary disinfectants before and after milking is primary important. To multiply the effect, we decided to combine the disinfecting treatment with the vaccination of cows against mastitis — a preventive measure becoming popular nowadays. The aim of the research is to develop the efficient scheme of cow mastitis prophylaxis based on the comparative efficacy analysis of applying the various disinfectants in immunized and nonimmunized animals.Materials and Methods. The research was carried out at the premises of the Agricultural Production Cooperative “Plemzavod Maiskii” (Maiskii Breeding Farm) during five months after the vaccination of cows (from November 2021 to March 2022). The cows were vaccinated with the home-developed inactivated associated vaccine against mastitis of cows. The post-milking treatment was carried out with the disinfectants “ProfiClean Iodine” and “Lorena”. For conducting the study, 4 groups of cows per 10 heads each were selected: the control group (in which only “ProfiClean Iodine” disinfectant was used), the experimental groups No. 1 (in which "Lorena" disinfectant was used), No. 2 (in which “ProfiClean Iodine” disinfectant was used in vaccinated animals) and No. 3 (in which “Lorena” disinfectant was used in vaccinated animals). The vaccination efficacy coefficient was calculated according to the formula EC = ((B – A)/B) × 100, where EC is the efficacy coefficient (%); A — is the cow mastitis incidence in vaccinated animals; B — is the cow mastitis incidence in non-vaccinated animals.Results. It has been established that the efficacy of “ProfiClean Iodine” for mastitis incidence prophylaxis in vaccinated animals compared to the non-vaccinated animals was 78.0%; the same prophylactic efficacy indicator of “Lorena” lotion was 89.0%. Monthly bacteriological examinations of the cow udder secretion resulted in isolation of the Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) culture, which is the prevailing infectious agent of cow mastitis, in 30.0% of cows in the control group. Pathogenic streptococci and enterobacteria have not been isolated. Opportunistic pathogenic staphylococci have been found in the udder secretion of animals in all studied groups, whereas the maximum amounts have been recorded in the control group and group No. 1 (50.0 and 40.0 % respectively) and the minimum – in groups No. 2 and 3 (10.0% each).Discussion and Conclusion. The research clearly demonstrates the efficacy of the integrated approach in solving the problem of the cow mastitis incidence — the incidence was 4.5 times lower in the experimental group No. 2 and 9.0 times lower in experimental group No. 3 compared to the control group. The combined use of the disinfectants and the inactivated associated vaccine against cow mastitis is a workable scheme providing 78.0 – 89.0% prophylactic efficacy, therefore it can be recommended for implementation into the agricultural enterprises of the appropriate profile.

Risk Factors Associated with Production and Reproduction in Dairy Camps (Kuku and Saig) at Khartoum State, Sudan

Introduction: Lack of awareness about reproductive disorders and their importance in the economic viability of farms in Sudan causes challenges among the majority of small farmholders. The present study was conducted to investigate the risk factors of production and reproduction in Kuku and Saig dairy camps in Khartoum State, Sudan. Materials and methods: In December 2017, a random selection of 100 farms was carried out. The current cross-sectional study was based on a structural questionnaire and direct interviews with the farm owners. Results: Vaccination against contagious diseases was practiced in 80% of the farms in the Kuku and Saig dairy camps in Khartoum State, Sudan. Quarantine of sick animals and newly introduced cows to the herd was practiced only in 23% of the farms. The study found a high prevalence of mastitis (95 farms), the spread of tick infestation (86 farms), and theileriosis (53 farms). There have been 58 farms, where animals showed signs of lameness, and 67 farms showed signs of jaundice disease. In the case of selected dairy camps, natural mating was predominant at 98% and bulls from outside the herd accounted for 89% of farms. Besides, 75% of the selected farms suffered from repeat breeders’ syndrome. The culling strategy was used in 86% of the dairy farms. There was a low risk of association between the treatment of diseases by the veterinarian, washing labor’s hands and udders of cows before and after the milking process, and between the type of mating and repeat breeders. In addition, there was a moderate risk of a correlation between the treatment of the disease by the veterinarian and the contact of other species of animals with the cows in the pen, monitoring of estrus and repeat breeders, and abortions and calving intervals. Moreover, a high risk of correlation was obtained between the isolation of animals and the use of vaccination. Conclusion: Control of the disease was unsatisfactory, especially in the Saig camp, with traditional basis management. Hence it is highly recommended to train the farm workers, improve their management, and enhance the animals’ health level.

Development of the product for pre-milking cow-udder care on the basis of nisin and lactic acid

Nisin is a natural antibacterial substance widely used in the food industry and other spheres. As nisin has no bactericidal effect on gram-negative bacteria, it is combined with organic acids. The work aimed at developing a product for pre-milking cow udder care based on nisin and lactic acid. The bactericidal effect of the solutions of nisin and lactic acid was determined using the method of radial diffusion in agar on test cultures S. aureus (ATCC 25923), E. coli (055К59 №3912/41), and Str. uberis (field strain). In the experiment was used nisin produced by Glory Chem Co., Ltd. (China), lactic acid food 80 % solution (“Klebrig”, Belgium). The content of lactic acid in 1.5 % solution was sufficient for detecting bactericidal action on cultures S. aureus і Str. uberis, and 2 % for E. coli. Nisin solution had a lower bactericidal effect on coccal forms of micro-organisms compared to lactic acid and was ineffective for gram-negative rods. S aureus cultures were sensitive to nisin in the case of 1,5 and 2 % content in the solution, and Str. uberis – in the case of 0.5 to 2 %. The study showed that the minimal substance content in the study variant of the agent was 1 % nisin and 1 % lactic acid, to which E. coli and S. aureus cultures are sensitive, and Str. uberis – highly sensitive. In the case of 1 % nisin and 1.5 % lactic acid content, all the studied micro-organisms are sensitive to such substances combination. In the case of the content of 1 % nisin and 2 % lactic acid, they are practically susceptible. Thus, when combined, nisin and lactic acid enhance each other's bactericidal effect and are more effective when used on test cultures of micro-organisms than they are separately. We have developed the studied agent variant for pre-milking cow udder care with the content of nisin – 1 %, lactic acid – 2 %, glycerine – 4 %, allantoin – 0.5 %, and water up to 100 %. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the agent in case of 30-second exposition on test cultures S. aureus and E. coli was in case of dissolution 1:1 and for Str. uberis – in case of dissolution 1:15.