Prevalence of Clinical and Subclinical Cattle Mastitis and the Associated Risk Factors in Bomet County, Kenya

Abstract

A survey of mastitis in cattle was conducted in Bomet County of Kenya, using the California mastitis test (Pyörälä et al., 2003). A total of 75 bovines from 50 farms were sampled and the overall cow level prevalence of mastitis was 16 per cent. Out of the 75 bovines sampled, the prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis was 4 per cent and 12 per cent respectively. In the intensive system of livestock production, the prevalence was 13.3 per cent, while in the semi-intensive system of livestock production, the prevalence was 2.7 per cent. A questionnaire was also completed by 50 farmers to collect data on risk factors, which included udder hygiene, stage of lactation, parity and floor type of cow housing, breeds (among the breeds, Friesians had a higher prevalence than Ayrshire breeds). This study showed that penicillin and streptomycin (40 per cent) were the most used drug to treat mastitis. In conclusion, the overall prevalence could have been attributed to poor milking practices and inadequate methods applied by farmers in controlling mastitis on their farms due to lack of knowledge as noticed from the discussions with the farmers on mastitis control guidelines (Kerro Dego et al., 2020).