Prevalence and Farm Management Factors and Milk Quality Changes Related to Bovine Mastitis in Small- and Medium-Sized Farms in the Central Highlands of Ecuador. - 2025
Prevalence and Farm Management Factors and Milk Quality Changes Related to Bovine Mastitis in Small- and Medium-Sized Farms in the Central Highlands of Ecuador.
[en] The Ecuadorian highlands provide favourable climate conditions for bovine milk production, where small- and medium-sized farms represent over 80% of dairy producers. However, in communities with limited technological resources, both clinical (CM) and subclinical mastitis (SM) pose significant challenges to productivity. This study surveyed a dairy-producing community in the central Ecuadorian highlands to evaluate risk factors associated with bovine mastitis and to analyse milk quality parameters. The prevalence of SM and CM at the animal level was 34.8% (130/374) and 1.9% (7/374), respectively, and at the farm level, it was 34.1% (29/85) for SM and 7.0% (6/85) for CM. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with the presence of SM and CM. An associated factor with the presence of SM (p < 0.05) was the non-compliance with time medication withdrawal (odds ratio [OR] = 3.88; 95% CI: 1.31-13.0). In contrast, performing the California mastitis test was a protective factor (OR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.10-0.93). At animal level, the use of crossbreeds increased the probability of SM (OR = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.58-4.41). The presence of SM in the herd significantly increased the risk of CM (OR = 12.47; 95% CI: 1.30-119.31). Milk samples positive for mastitis showed changes in density, added water, and freezing point. These findings highlight the need for farmer training and strict adherence to diagnostic and preventive protocols for bovine mastitis in order to improve herd health and milk quality.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Maya-Delgado, Alicia ; Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Army University of Ecuador (ESPE), Sangolquí, 171-5-231, Ecuador ; Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, 4000, Belgium, ulg.ac.be
Ron-Garrido, Lenin ; Institute for Zoonosis Research (CIZ), Central University of Ecuador, Quito, 170521, Ecuador, uce.edu.ec ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, 170521, Ecuador, uce.edu.ec
Balarezo-Espinoza, Katherine; Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Army University of Ecuador (ESPE), Sangolquí, 171-5-231, Ecuador
Poveda-Tutasi, María J; Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Army University of Ecuador (ESPE), Sangolquí, 171-5-231, Ecuador
Cholota-Iza, Cristina; Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Army University of Ecuador (ESPE), Sangolquí, 171-5-231, Ecuador
Chávez-Larrea, María A; Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Army University of Ecuador (ESPE), Sangolquí, 171-5-231, Ecuador
Reyna-Bello, Armando ; Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Army University of Ecuador (ESPE), Sangolquí, 171-5-231, Ecuador
Martin-Solano, Sarah ; Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Army University of Ecuador (ESPE), Sangolquí, 171-5-231, Ecuador
Saegerman, Claude ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Epidémiologie, analyse de risques et biosécurité appliquées aux sciences vétérinaires
Ron-Román, Jorge ; Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Army University of Ecuador (ESPE), Sangolquí, 171-5-231, Ecuador
Language :
English
Title :
Prevalence and Farm Management Factors and Milk Quality Changes Related to Bovine Mastitis in Small- and Medium-Sized Farms in the Central Highlands of Ecuador.
ARES - Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur ULiège - Université de Liège Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas
Funding text :
This survey was funded by the Acad\u00E9mie de Recherche et d\u2019enseignement Sup\u00E9rieur (ARES) through the Synergy Project (PRD) entitled \u2018Autonomy and training of women as a strategy against cattle mastitis in the centre of highlands of Ecuador\u2019, by the Universit\u00E9 de Li\u00E8ge (Belgium) and by the Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE (Ecuador).Our thanks go to the Acad\u00E9mie de Recherche et d\u2019Enseignement Sup\u00E9rieur (ARES) for funding this research, the University ESPE and the University of Li\u00E8ge for hosting the project. In addition, our thanks go to all the farmers who participated, the community leaders and the students of both the Carrera de Ingenier\u00EDa Agropecuaria and the Carrera de Ingenier\u00EDa en Biotecnolog\u00EDa, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y de la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, who participated in the field and laboratory work and thanks to whom this research was possible.This survey was funded by the Acad\u00E9mie de Recherche et d\u2019enseignement Sup\u00E9rieur (ARES) through the Synergy Project (PRD) entitled \u2018Autonomy and training of women as a strategy against cattle mastitis in the centre of highlands of Ecuador\u2019, by the Universit\u00E9 de Li\u00E8ge (Belgium) and by the Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE (Ecuador). Our thanks go to the Acad\u00E9mie de Recherche et d\u2019Enseignement Sup\u00E9rieur (ARES) for funding this research, the University ESPE and the University of Li\u00E8ge for hosting the project. In addition, our thanks go to all the farmers who participated, the community leaders and the students of both the Carrera de Ingenier\u00EDa Agropecuaria and the Carrera de Ingenier\u00EDa en Biotecnolog\u00EDa, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y de la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, who participated in the field and laboratory work and thanks to whom this research was possible.
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