ASSESSMENT OF UDDER SKIN SURFACE TEMPERATURE CHANGES IN RELATION TO MASTITIS AND MICRO-CLIMATIC VARIABLES IN CROSSBRED DAIRY COWS IN THREE CLIMATE ZONES IN KERALA
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Date
2023-03-23
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Early diagnosis of mastitis is most important to reduce the economic loss in dairy sector. The objective of the study was to assess the interrelationship of udder skin surface temperature determined by infrared thermography (IRT), with micro-climatic variables, body temperature and daily milk yield in three climate zones in Kerala. Forthis, lactating crossbred dairy cows (n=20 animals) were monitored for 21 days eachin four dairy farms. The body temperature (eye and rectal) and udder skin surface temperature (USST) of dairy cows were recorded during the study period at diurnaltime intervals. Similarly, dry and wet bulb thermometers were installed inside the animal sheds and recordings were made on ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH). Milk samples were collected at the time of afternoon milking from each quarter and tested for California Mastitis Test (CMT). Daily milk yield of the dairy cows was recorded from the milk production registers.It was observed that ambient temperature and relative humidity had significant correlation (positive and negative) with USST in University Livestock Farm (ULF)and Livestock Research Station (LRS). The mean eye and rectal temperature were higher than the mean USST and significantly differed from USST in all the farms throughout the study. There was significant correlation between rectal temperature and udder skin surface temperature in LRS and Cattle Breeding Farm (CBF) and moderate correlation between them in ULF and Base Farm. Higher USST was noticed in udders with clinical mastitis followed by non-mastitis and subclinical mastitis, and the skin surface temperature of non-mastitis and clinical mastitis udders were significantly higher than subclinical mastitis udders. Milk yield did not show any significant influence on theUSST. The results of this study indicated the limitations in the precise and uniform use
of IRT of udders for early detection of mastitis across different climatic zones, as interplay of micro-climatic variables and other factors can reflect on USST. Keywords: body temperature, eye temperature, udder skin surface temperature
(USST), infrared thermography (IRT)