Lactose as an Indicator of Udder Health Status under Modern Dairy Production

Mastitis is very important disease of dairy animals. The sub-clinical mastitis hampers milk quality and quantity. The increased somatic cell count and microbial count of milk are commonly used indicators of udder intramammary infections in dairy animals. Indirect indicators include California Mastitis Test, Surf Field Mastitis Test, Sodium Hydroxide Test, Catalase test etc. The modern dairy production relies on the estimation of somatic cell count, bacterial count and analysis of milk lactose to determine the quality of milk for dairy processing. Lactose (milk sugar) is reliable indicator of udder health status in modern dairy production. The developing countries are facing the challenge of sub-clinical mastitis and through early detection of mastitis based on indicators of mastitis like milk lactose can also serve the diagnosis of mastitis in dairy animals.