Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Sub-clinical mastitis limits milk production and represents an important barrier to profitable livestock
economics worldwide. Milk production from cows in Nigeria is not at optimum levels in view of many factors
including sub-clinical mastitis.
RESULTS: The overall herd-level prevalence rate for SCM was 85.33% (256/300 heads of cows) while the quarter-level
prevalence rate of SCM was 43.25% (519/1,200 quarters). The prevalence of SCM was 50.67%, 43.67%, 39.67% and
39.13% for the left fore-quarter, right hind-quarter, left hind-quarter and right fore-quarter, respectively. The Rahaji
breed had the highest prevalence of SCM with 65.91% (29/44), while the White Fulani breed had the least with
32.39% (57/176). A total of 32.33% (97/300) had only one mammary quarter affected, 30.33% (91/300) had two
quarters affected, 16.00% (48/300) had three quarters affected while 6.67%
(20/300) had all the four quarters affected. A total of 53.00% had SCM in multiple quarters (159/300). The risk of
SCM decreased significantly among young lactating cows compared to older animals (OR = 0.283; P < 0.001; 95%
CI = 0.155; 0.516). The Rahaji breed had significantly higher risk compared with the White Fulani breed (OR = 8.205;
P = 0.013; 95% CI = 1.557; 43.226). Improved sanitation (washing hands before milking) will decrease the risk of SCM
(OR = 0.173; P = 0.003; 95% CI = 0.054; 0.554).
CONCLUSION: SCM is prevalent among lactating cows in the Nigerian Savannah; and this is associated with both
animal characteristics (age, breed and individual milk quarters) and milking practices (hand washing).Good
knowledge of the environment and careful management of the identified risk factors with improved sanitation
should assist farm managers and veterinarians in implementing preventative programmes to reduce the incidence
of SCM.
