Environmental Risk Factors Associated With Bovine Mastitis in an Amazon Micro-region

Abstract In this study we evaluated the main risk factors for the occurrence of bovine mastitis, in the southeastern of Pará, in the Brazilian Amazon. In this research we gathered data from 91 dairy farmers through structured questionnaires to identify management practices and breed characteristics. Along with the questionnaire, a sample of 50 mL of milk was collected from each property for microbiological analysis using somatic cell counts (SCC). A logit model was used to determine the probability of subclinical mastitis occurrence, depending on management practices and breed. One risk factor associated with mastitis was irrigated pastures, where the chances of mastitis was 5.03 times higher than in non-irrigated pastures. Herds comprising the Girolando breed increased the chances of mastitis by 5.8 times over those comprising crossbred cows. In production systems where common cloth are used to teat drying the chances of occurrence were 33 times greater compared to drying them using paper towels. The adoption of better management practices in dairy farmers could lead to reduce SCC, increasing both milk quality and guarrating that farmers keep SCC at Brazilian legal limits for Amazon region.