Infrared thermography for detection of clinical and subclinical mastitis in dairy cattle: comparison between Girolando and Jersey breeds

Abstract

Mastitis is one of the most prevalent diseases in dairy cattle globally, ranking at the top in terms of prevalence and incidence. It impacts milk production and quality, subsequently decreasing economic returns and farm sustainability. Early diagnosis and treatment of mastitis are crucial to mitigate its detrimental effects on both animals and the dairy industry. Infrared thermography (IRT) in animals serves as a clinically relevant method to detect pathophysiological changes, marked by thermal variations caused by inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of IRT as a diagnostic tool for clinical and subclinical mastitis in Girolando and Jersey cows. We examined 78 udder quarters from Girolando cows and 104 from Jersey cows, all from farms in the Adamantina region. Differences in IRT image intensities were compared with anterior and posterior udder temperatures at a single central point or area, correlating with results from Tamis and CMT tests. All analyses were conducted in R software, with a significance level set at 5%. When evaluating thermographic images, the effect size was significant for the breed and CMT test, but not for the Tamis test. In conclusion, IRT exhibits potential in screening for subclinical mastitis in the evaluated breeds, demonstrating a predictive diagnostic capability similar to the CMT, albeit with a temperature difference between them. Their measurements, whether at a point or an area of the mammary gland, were found to be equivalent.