Abstract:
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The present field study was conducted to investigate the factors that influence the udder
health status of dairy cows in Thuringia-Germany. A total of 64542 udder quarter and whole milk
samples of which 56950 were udder quarter samples and 7592 were whole milk samples, from 10741
dairy cows in 48 dairy farms in the state of Thuringia were collected and subjected to microbiological
investigations. The prevalence of infection was 27.57% of the quarters and 49.59% of the whole milk
samples. Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNS) were the most
frequently isolated contagious pathogens. Whereas, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Esculin Positive
Streptococci (EPS, environmental pathogens), showed a prevalence in the udder and udder quarter
samples of 12.90/13.90% and 9.0/10.60% respectively. The study found that the risk of developing
mastitis was increased when the attacking pathogen was contagious (p < 0.001; OR, 3.11), in small
herds (p< 0.001; OR, 2.91) and in purchased heifers (p< 0.001; OR, 2.97). Cows in early stage of
lactation as well as summer calving cows were at higher risk of developing mastitis (OR, 2.64 and
2.51 respectively). |