Reliability of udder infrared thermography as a non-invasive technology for early detection of sub-clinical mastitis in Sahiwal (Bos indicus) cows under semi-intensive production system.

The present study focused on Sahiwal cows, a prominent milch breed in tropical India, to correlate udder temperature with physiological markers of stress and inflammation during subclinical mastitis (SCM). The primary goal was to assess the potential of udder infrared thermography for the early detection of SCM under the semi-intensive production. Cows were categorized based on milk somatic cell counts (SCC), with healthy (H) cows having SCC <2 × 10 cells/mL and no history of mastitis, and cows with subclinical mastitis (SCM) and initial stages of clinical mastitis (CM) having quarter milk SCC of 2-5 × 10 and >5 × 10 cells/mL, respectively.