Effect of essential oil-based teat spray on sub-clinical mastitis and milk yield in dairy cows

The present study was conducted at Gorakshan Sabha, Dhantoli, Nagpur, for 90 days to study the "Effect of essential oil-based teat spray on sub-clinical mastitis and milk yield in dairy cows". 71 dairy cows were screened using the Modified California Mastitis Test (MCMT), of which 24 tested positive and were randomly allocated into three treatment groups (T1, T2, and T3) of eight cows each. T1 received 2% of essential oil-based teat dip (post-milking), T2 received 2% of essential oil-based teat spray (post-milking), and T3 received 1% of essential oil-based teat spray (post-milking). The essential oils used included eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and tea tree. Milk samples were collected on days 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 to evaluate Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and milk yield. Results showed a significant reduction in SCC and a gradual increase in milk yield across all groups, with the most notable improvement in T2. These findings highlight the potential of essential oil-based teat sprays as an effective, natural alternative for managing subclinical mastitis.