Influence of bovine sub-clinical mastitis and associated risk factors on calving interval in a population of crossbred l
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Influence of bovine sub-clinical mastitis and associated risk factors on calving interval in a population of crossbred lactating cows in Sri Lanka R. Rahularaj 1 & R. M. C. Deshapriya 2
&
R. M. S. B. K. Ranasinghe 3
Received: 21 October 2018 / Accepted: 29 May 2019 # Springer Nature B.V. 2019
Abstract A study was carried out to identify prevalence and risk factors for bovine subclinical mastitis (SCM) in crossbred lactating cows within the Kurunagala district of Sri Lanka. In this study, 283 crossbred cows (Jersey x Shahiwal) from randomly selected medium- and relatively large-scale dairy farms were screened for SCM. The Californian mastitis test (CMT) plus microbiological analyses were employed for screening. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect information on the cows and their management. When screening was based only on CMT, the prevalence of SCM was 49%, and it was 44% if based on both CMT and pathogen isolation. The isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus spp. (80%, 98/123), Escherichia coli (14%, 17/123), Streptococcus spp. (3%, 4/123) and Pasteurella multocida (3%, 4/123). The age, parity and milk yield showed positive correlations with SCM (p < 0.05). The prevalence of SCM was relatively high after the fifth parity (p = 0.03, odds ratio = 9.49). A positive correlation of increase in calving interval (more than 18 months) with SCM was observed. The prevalence of SCM on the dairy farms can be reduced by implementing more hygienic management practices. Keywords Mastitis . Pathogens . Risk factors . Calving interval
Introduction The livestock sector’s contribution to total gross domestic product (GDP) is 0.6% in Sri Lanka (Central Bank of Sri Lanka 2016). Livestock is an integral part of the agricultural economy in the rural community of the country and contributes to enhanced food security and reduced malnutrition, and helps to alleviate poverty. The contribution of Sri Lanka’s dairy sector to the GDP, as a subsector of agriculture, is relatively small. The total milking
* R. M. C. Deshapriya [email protected] 1
Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
2
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
3
Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
cow population in the country is about 284,400, and the production of milk from this population is around 328 million kg, showing an increasing trend following the importation of more productive cows during the past 3 years. Domestic milk production is sufficient to fulfil only about 42% of the total national milk demand (Central Bank of Sri Lanka 2016). There are many constraints on the development of dairying in Sri Lanka, including the lack of high-yielding cows, land scarcity, poor nutrition, low reproductive performance and high cost of production. Several studies in selected areas of the country have shown un
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