Comparison of milk antitrypsin, albumin, n-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, somatic cells and bacteriological analysis as indicators of bovine subclinical mastitis

Thirty-two quarters, five of which harbored subclinical mastitis, were examined daily for one month. The usefulness of milk antitrypsin, BSA (bovine serum albumin), NAGase, somatic cells and bacteriological analysis in differentiating the inflamed quarters from the healthy control quarters was analysed. Inter-quarter evaluation clearly improved each indirect mastitis parameter; NAGase and antitrypsin were better indicators of differences between infected and non-infected quarters than BSA or the somatic cell count.