Study on Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Mastitis in Small Holder Dairy Farms at Lemo Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross sectional study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of mastitis in dairy cattle and associated risk factor at Hadiya zone Lemo Woreda from February 2016 to August 2016. One hundred twenty (120) lactating cows which are managed under small scale dairy holder farmers which have 1 to 6 cows were sampled. Risk factors like Age, Breed, parity, stage of lactation, udder hygiene and floor type was recorded during sampling. 120 animals and 480 udder quarters were tested for subclinical and clinical mastitis by using CMT (California mastitis test) and clinical observation. The result of the study shows that 53.3% (64/120) were positive for mastitis. The result of the study indicates also 23.5% (12/64) of the mastitis were clinical and 76.5% (49/64) were subclinical mastitis in the study area. From 480 quarters that were tested for mastitis, 276 quarters which is 57.5% (276/480) were positive. Out of the risk factors assessed udder hygiene and floor type has statistically significant association to the infection rate of mastitis (P<0.05). The other risk factors have no significant association in this study. The finding of the current study reviles that there is high rate of mastitis infection in smallholder dairy farms in Lemo Woreda. Therefore farm owners require to practices hygienic milking, the culling of chronically infected cows, good housing management and effective dairy cattle nutrition to promote good cow health.

Keywords: Bovine, mastitis, prevalence, subclinical, clinical