Vol. 12, Issue 4 (2023)

Author(s):
Aprajita Johri, Niddhi Arora, Maansi, Meena Mrigesh, SP Singh and JL Singh

Abstract:
Dairy sector has its dependency on udder health of lactating animals. Mastitis remains the most devastating condition related to udder health of the animal leading to huge economic loss. Mastitis occurs due to various infections. Mastitic milk has high electrical conductivity due to glandular tissue damage. The concentration of Na⁺ and Cl^- ions increases while the concentration of K⁺ and lactose decreases in milk. The current investigation was conducted to utilize the technique of milk electrical conductivity (EC) as a tool to detect early mastitis. Forty five milk samples were collected from the university dairy farm. The results for EC was determined as low as 3.5 mS/cm and as high as 8.05 mS/cm. The fluctuation in EC might be attributed to different concentration of electrolytes in milk. 60% milk samples showed EC values within average range and considered negative for mastitis with mean of 4.56 mS/cm, while 40% milk samples were found with high EC values than average range. The mean EC value for subclinical is 5.90 mS/cm and 6.73 mS/cm for clinical mastitis. This proposed the presence of high ionic concentration as an indication of mastitis in buffaloes. This result concludes that EC can be used as a spot on test in field conditions to detect early stage mastitis. This technique can be of immense help for farmers and dairymen to detect the stage of infection and to initiate the therapeutic protocol as early as possible which ultimately leads to resolution of infection.