Micro-organisms associated with non-functional mammary gland quarters in dairy cows in small-scale farms in Kenya

Mammary gland quarters (516) of 139 dairy cows in small scale dairy farms i n Kenya were examined by visual observation for size and physical morpholog y, deep palpation for consistency of the tissues and stripping for the milk ability of the quarters.-The prevalence of the non-functional (fibrotic and atrophied) mammary gland quarters was 12.1%. Fibrosis of the mammary gland tissues was the most common cause of the loss of function of the mammary g land quarters (40/67). Secretions were obtained from 63 of the non-function al quarters, out of these 56 were serous while the other 7 were pussy. A po sitive CMT score was observed in 43 (61.9%) secretions while 24 (38.1%) sec retions had a negative CMT score. Bacterial organisms were isolated from 43 secretions (63.3%) and the main bacterial organisms associated with the lo ss of the mammary gland quarters were Staphylococcus aureus (65.1%) followe d by Actinomyces pyogenes (18.6%). Other bacterial organisms isolated from the non functional mammary gland quarters were Streptococcus spp. (9.3%), E . coli (4.7%) and Klebsiella (2.3%).