Relationship between teat morphological traits and subclinical mastitis in Frieswal dairy cows

The present study was aimed to investigate the relationship between selected morphological traits of teat and subclinical mastitis (SCM) in Frieswal crossbred dairy cows. A total of 1040 quarters from 261 lactating cows were evaluated for teat shape (bottle/fleshy/collapsed/conical/normal/pencil and short), teat-end shape (dished/flat/funnel/pocketed/pointed and rounded), teat orientation (aligned/misaligned) and teat position (front and rear; left-sided and right-sided). Each udder quarter was screened with California Mastitis Test (CMT) for the purpose of defining quarter health status. Data were analysed using Chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression procedure. An overall prevalence of SCM (CMT positive) at quarter level was 30.6%. Most of the teats had normal or cylindrical shapes (48%), dished teat-ends (40.7%), and aligned (central or squared) in orientation (65%). At bivariable level, significant association of SCM with teat shape, teat position, teat orientation, parity, and stage of lactation was observed (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Teat-end shapes showed some association with SCM (P = 0.07). Results of multivariable analysis showed that pencil-shaped teats were least associated with SCM (P < 0.05) as compared to other teat shapes. Prevalence of SCM was also higher in rear teats (P = 0.015), misaligned teats (P = 0.01), and cows in second or higher parities (P < 0.01) and late stage of lactation (P < 0.001). The results of the present study indicate that selected morphological traits of teat are associated with SCM in Frieswal crossbred cows; therefore, selection towards desirable morphological traits could help reduce mastitis in this breed.