Bovine Mastitis - A Disease of Serious Concern for Dairy Farmers

Abstract Mastitis is an inflammatory disease condition of the udder affecting milk production negatively and having a serious impact on the economy of dairy enterprise. It is considered to be the most costly disease of dairy animals and losses mainly occur through discarded milk, reduction in milk yield, premature culling of animals and replacements. It is usually caused due to the effects of infection by bacterial or mycotic pathogens. Pathologic changes to milk-secreting epithelial cells from the inflammatory process often bring about a decrease in functional capacity. Depending on the pathogen, functional losses may continue into further lactations, which impairs productivity and potential weight gain by offspring. Although most infections result in relatively mild clinical or subclinical local inflammation, more severe cases can lead to agalactia or even profound systemic involvement resulting in death. Mastitis has been reported in almost all domestic mammals and has a worldwide geographic distribution. Climatic conditions, seasonal variation, density and housing of livestock populations, and husbandry practices may affect the incidence and etiology. However, it is of greatest frequency and economic importance in species that primarily function as producers of milk for dairy products, particularly dairy cattle.