Detection of Subclinical Mastitis in Lactating Gudali Zebus in North Cameroon

Abstract

The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence ofsubclinical mastitis in bovine dairy farms of Vina. Milksamples were analyzed by the direct somatic cell count (SCC)method and the California Mastitis Test (CMT). Bulk milk wassampled in 37 dairy farms. Mean SCC was 1240 ± 765 x 10³cells per milliliter of milk and varied significantly with theherd size (p < 0,05). Monitoring was regular and covered asix-month period in three separate farms: bulk milk andindividual milk samples from lactating zebu cattle weremonthly analyzed. Mean direct SCC was 834 ± 204 x 10³cells per milliliter of bulk milk, equivalent to a CMT 2 score(sign of mastitis). Monthly differences were not significant.Results from 504 individual milk samples showed that parityand the stage of lactation significantly affected SCC. AlthoughGudali zebu females of tropical areas yield lesser milk, theresults showed that they were still prone to subclinicalmastitis. Therefore, SCC seemed to be a useful tool to bedeveloped on a small or larger scale within an integratedcontrol program so as to detect systematically and regularlymastitis.