Prevalence of mastitis in goat herds in some northwestern villages in Nigeria

In this study 10 different herds were randomly sampled and milk samples obtained from 263 lactating does with normal sized udder and enlarged (unilateral/bilateral) pendulous udders .The obtained milk samples were analyzed for mastitis using a rapid field catalase test (RFCT). From 194 samples obtained from NSU (Normal Size Udder), 164 samples were negative to the test while 30 samples were positive. These represent 84.5% negatives and 15.5% positives of the total sample analyzed. Similarly, 69 samples were obtained from both U/BEU (Unilateral/Bilateral Enlarged Udder), 42 samples were negative to RFCT while 27 samples positive, representing 60.7% negatives and 39.3% positives of the total analyzed samples. The information obtained from this research work is to sensitize farmers on the need for routine examination/screening of their herd for mastitis; since mastitis occurring as the most common and costly disease which could take a heavier toll in animal industry than any single disease through considerable economic loss.