Electrical detection of subclinical mastitis

Abstract

Extract

Sir,— The work of Linzel et al.(2) Clarke, G. P. Y. and Oliver, J. 1977. Estimation of the prevalence of udder infection in dairy herds based on a single-quarter sample from each cow in the dairy herd. J. Dair. Res., 44: 195–199.  [Google Scholar] (3) Linzell, J. L. and Peaker, M. 1975. Efficacy of the measurement of the electrical conductivity of milk for the detection of subclinical mastitis in cows: Detection of infected cows at a single visit. Br. vet. J., 131: 447–460.  [Google Scholar] suggested that a high proportion of quarters showing subclinical infection could be detected by measuring the maximum absolute electrical conductivity of their foremilk. Consequently, it seemed worthwhile to evaluate the performance of a simple electrical conductivity meter ^{* *}AHI Mastitis Detector, AHI Plastic Moulding Co., Private Bag, Hamilton. , designed to be a rapid and reliable test for subclinical mastitis, against the more conventional tests.