Executive Summary & Operational Context
Mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland caused by bacterial invasion) is the #1 financial killer of Indian dairy farms, responsible for over ₹7,000 Crore in annual losses. Over 70% of mastitis is "sub-clinical"—completely invisible to the naked eye until irreversible quarter fibrosis occurs.
Weekly California Mastitis Test (CMT) detects sub-clinical mastitis in 15 seconds at the cow-side for ₹2 per test, allowing early cure before permanent teat blindness.
Clinical vs Sub-Clinical Mastitis: The Hidden Enemy
Clinical Mastitis is obvious: the quarter is swollen, hot, painful, and milk contains visible clots, blood, or yellow serum. Sub-Clinical Mastitis is insidious: the udder and milk appear 100% normal, but bacterial invasion (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis) destroys secretory alveoli, drops milk yield by 15-20%, lowers lactose/SNF, and spreads silently to other cows via milkers' hands.
Step-by-Step California Mastitis Test (CMT) Protocol
1. Strip first streams into strip cup; 2. Squirt 2 mL of milk from each quarter into the 4 corresponding wells of the CMT paddle; 3. Tilt paddle to 45 degrees to equalize milk volumes; 4. Add equal volume (2 mL) of CMT reagent (sodium alkyl aryl sulfonate with bromocresol purple); 5. Swirl paddle gently in a horizontal circle for 10-15 seconds. Interpretation: Negative: Mixture stays liquid (healthy, SCC < 200,000); Trace: Faint slime disappears with swirling; 1+ Positive: Definite slime, no gel; 2+ Positive: Thick gel forms immediately, centers in well (SCC 800,000 to 2,500,000); 3+ Positive: Heavy jelly-like mass forms, sticks to paddle (SCC > 5,000,000).
How to Implement on Your Dairy Farm
Screen All Quarters Weekly with CMT
Run CMT tests on every milch animal every Sunday morning to detect early cellular inflammation.
Infuse Intramammary Tubes Post-Milking
Milk out the affected quarter completely, disinfect the teat orifice with an alcohol swab, and infuse a broad-spectrum intramammary antibiotic tube (e.g., Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid or Cefoperazone).
Dip Teats in 1% Barrier Iodine
Dip all teats immediately after every milking and keep cows standing for 45 minutes.
Recommended Breeds for this System
Related Dairy Guides in Disease & Health
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Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD / Khurpakka-Munhpakka): Vaccination Timing & Outbreak Protocol
Black Quarter (BQ / Langda Bukhar): Symptoms, Clostridium Vaccination & Urgent Therapy
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions: Mastitis in Dairy Cows: California Mastitis Test (CMT), Teat Dip & Intramammary Treatment
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