Impact of non-genetic factors on clinical mastitis incidence in Murrah buffaloes

Abstract

Abstract Mastitis brings on economic losses, declined milk production, uplifted treatment costs and accelerated culling in buffaloes. Also, being multi-etiological in nature, control of mastitis is challenging in dairy animals. Hence, knowing the risk factors governing clinical mastitis incidence in buffalo might help in minimizing its occurrence. So, the present study was undertaken in 96 adult Murrah buffaloes to investigate the effect of parity, period of calving, season of calving and level of milk production on incidence of clinical mastitis using logistic regression in SAS v 9.3. The data of mastitis incidence was collected over a period of eighteen years (1997–2014) from Health record register of Livestock Research Centre of the institute. The incidence of mastitis was maximum in second parity (7.65%) followed by parity five and above (7.41%). Parity and period of calving had significant effects (p < 0.05) on mastitis incidence. The odds ratio for incidence of mastitis of animals in parity (5 and above) was highest (3.832), in comparison to first lactation. The animals calving during the period (2004–2007), exhibited maximum incidence of clinical mastitis (14.75%). Higher mastitis incidence in higher parity animals may be due to the compromised immune system and widened teat canal. Therefore, proper management of animals especially for advanced pregnant animals is recommended for reducing incidence of mastitis.