Infrared Thermography: A New Frontier in Detecting Subclinical Mastitis

Subclinical mastitis (SM) is a significant concern for the dairy industry, causing annual losses of approximately 35 billion USD globally. Traditional detection methods like the California Mastitis Test are effective but require manual operation, limiting large-scale screening capabilities. Researchers led by Dr. Weerasinghe Pathirage Chamila Gayani Weerasinghe from the University of Peradeniya have proposed an innovative approach utilizing infrared thermography (IRT) to detect SM.

The study involved 4,274 udder quarters from 1,074 lactating cows across 658 small and medium-scale farms in the Up Country, Mid Country, Coconut Triangle, and Western Province regions of Sri Lanka. Results showed that the udder skin surface temperature (USST) of SM-positive quarters was notably higher than healthy ones, with regional temperature differences ranging from 1.86 ℃ to 2.49 ℃.

Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity significantly influenced these thresholds. For instance, the Up Country, with a lower environmental temperature, had a higher detection threshold. Regression analysis indicated that every 1 ℃ increase in environmental temperature reduced the ΔT threshold by 0.08 ℃.

This research suggests IRT as a rapid, non-contact method for SM detection. By capturing udder images with handheld thermal cameras, farmers can compare temperature differences against regional thresholds to assess infection status. While challenges like shooting distance exist, they can be mitigated through standardized protocols.

The study underscores the potential of integrating IRT with herd management software and other indicators like somatic cell count to enhance detection accuracy. This approach could significantly improve disease prevention and control in developing countries, promoting precision management on small and medium-scale farms.