Impact of Dexamethasone on Cortisol and Luteinizing Hormone Levels in Dairy Goats with Subclinical Mastitis in Siliragung District, Banyuwangi

Dairy goats are small ruminants with high potential in the livestock industry but are susceptible to mastitis, reducing milk productivity. One of the therapies used in the treatment of mastitis is dexamethasone, but its excessive use can cause oxidative stress, inhibit follicle development, and interfere with reproduction. Stress experienced due to mastitis also increases cortisol hormone levels which have an impact on milk production. Stress also induced LH level. This study aims to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone administration on Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and cortisol levels in dairy goats with subclinical mastitis. This study is a laboratory experimental study with a completely randomized design. A total of 20 dairy goats with subclinical mastitis were divided into five treatment groups. The negative control group was given physiological NaCl 0.9%; the positive control was given Flunixin Meglumine® 1,5 mg/kgBW, while the treatment group was given dexamethasone at a dose of 0.04 mg/kgBW (P1), 0.1 mg/kgBW (P2), and 0.12 mg/kgBW (P3) intramuscularly for five consecutive days. Blood samples were taken on the sixth day through the jugular vein, and LH and cortisol levels were tested using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Administration of dexamethasone with a toxic dose of 0.12 mg/kgBW and Flunixin Meglumine® with a therapeutic dose of 50 mg/kgBW significantly reduced LH levels. In addition, statistical analysis with the One-Way ANOVA test showed that dexamethasone administration affected cortisol levels (p<0.05). Duncan\'s Post Hoc test showed significant differences between treatment groups and negative and positive controls (p<0.005). Administering dexamethasone to dairy goats with subclinical mastitis can reduce LH and cortisol levels, which have the potential to affect livestock reproduction and productivity.