UDDER THERMOGRAPHY OF GYR COWS FOR SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS DETECTION

Abstract

Aiming to evaluate the infrared thermography technique for early detection of subclinical mastitis in Gyrcows, 70 animals were selected in 2nd or 3rd lactation, with an average production of 7.2 kg / d between90 and 200 days in milking. Images of two quarters (front and backside) of the same udder side weremonthly performed during three months using a thermal camera to evaluate the surface temperature atthree different heights (upper, median and lower), totalizing 420 measurements. Milk samples fromeach quarter were also collected to evaluate the SCC and microbiological culture. The SCC did notinfluence udder temperature at different heights (p>0.05). However, temperatures among the regionsof the quarter were different, the upper area had higher values than the median and lower regions(p<0.05). There was no difference in udder temperatures in relation to the type of microorganismsisolated in milk (p>0.05). The use of thermal camera allowed the identification of temperature variationsof skin surface at different udder regions of Gyr cows. However, this technique was not effective in thedetection of subclinical mastitis.