Ultrasound examination of the teat parameters of mastitis and healed udder quarters

Abstract

A healthy udder is important for economical and hygienic milk production. In this study we determined the teat parameters, measured during milking, in the presence of mastitis and after its recovery. The length of the streak canal, the area of the teat end and the area of the pars papillaris of 52 Holstein–Friesian cows were examined by ultrasound before, immediately after, and two hours after milking. Pars papillaris size before milking was higher in the presence of disease (P = 0.011), but was larger before and two hours after milking (P = 0.047 and P = 0.024) with more severe mastitis. During mastitis and recovery, the dimensions of the streak canal (P=0.056–0.934) and teat end (P=0.156–0.420) did not differ from each other. The obtained results show that during mastitis, coagulated milk dilates the pars papillaris better (P=0.011) than the higher milk production of the cured cow. After more severe mastitis, regeneration of the pars papillaris as well as post-milking regeneration also takes place more slowly. The size and size changes of the streak canal and teat end are not affected by the presence or healing of the udder inflammation.