Evaluation of Herbal Remedies for Bovine Subclinical Mastitis: Impact on Milk Quality and Antimicrobial Activity
Evaluation of Herbal Remedies for Bovine Subclinical Mastitis: Impact on Milk Quality and Antimicrobial Activity
Muhammad Said1, Amjad Hussain Mirani1, Muhammad Ilyas2, Muhammad Usman3, Atif Munir4, Kamran Hussain4, Hasnain Ali4, Salar Hussain4, Maaz Khan4, Abdul Kabir5*
ABSTRACT
Bovine mastitis poses a significant challenge to the dairy industry, resulting in substantial economic losses. Subclinical mastitis, characterized by inconspicuous inflammation, is particularly prevalent and detrimentally impacts milk quality and yield. This study investigates the occurrence of subclinical mastitis within buffalo herds in Hyderabad’s cattle colony, concentrating on discernible indicators of mastitis milk and the therapeutic potential of ethnoveterinary plant extracts. Among 120 milk samples tested using the California Mastitis Test (CMT), 66.66% were positive for subclinical mastitis. The antimicrobial susceptibility of Berberis lyceum, Capsicum annuum, and Asafoetida extracts was tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae using the disc diffusion method. The highest prevalence of subclinical mastitis was observed in 5-year-old buffaloes (83.33%) and those in their 4th parity (75.00%). Examination of milk properties revealed increased acidity, electrical conductivity, and specific gravity in mastitis-affected milk. Antimicrobial testing showed that Berberis lyceum exhibited inhibition zones of 1.5±0.57 mm and 1.6±1.10 mm, Capsicum annuum had 1.6±1.10 mm and 1.03±0.10 mm, and Asafoetida displayed 1.1±0.10 mm and 1.5±0.57 mm against S. aureus and S. agalactiae, respectively. These results indicate limited antibacterial efficacy of the herbal extracts. The study highlights the high prevalence of subclinical mastitis and the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. While herbal extracts exhibited weak antibacterial activity, further research is required to explore higher concentrations, synergistic effects, and potential formulations to improve therapeutic efficacy.
Keywords | Mastitis, Ethnoveterinary plant, Herbal therapy, Antimicrobial susceptibility, Dairy production
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