Estimation of Interdependence Among Quarters of the Bovine Udder with Subclinical Mastitis and Implications for Analysis

¹ Animal Health Service, PO Box 361, 9200 AJ Drachten, The Netherlands
² Department of Herd Health and Reproduction, Utrecht University, PO Box 80151, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
³ School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 29348-1692
⁴ Veterinary Clinic Ureterp, Weibuorren 1/aa, 9247 AX Ureterp, The Netherlands

Interdependency among udder quarters with subclinical mastitis was evaluated on 150 farms using a total of 35,828 udder quarters. The occurrence of high somatic cell count (SCC) (>250,000 cells/ml) in 0, 3, and 4 quarters occurred at a higher rate than would be expected based on independence of the quarters. For all bacterial species, intramammary infection in 0, 2, 3, or 4 quarters of the same cow occurred at a higher rate than would be expected based on independence of the quarters. Intramammary infection and high SCC were found less often in front quarters than in rear quarters. High SCC and intramammary infection occurred more often in right front quarters than in left front quarters. High SCC in diagonal quarters occurred at a lower rate than expected. Corynebacterium bovis, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Staphylococcus aureus had the highest intraclass correlation within herd. Streptococcus uberis had a very low intraclass correlation within herd. The intraclass correlation within cow for the natural logarithm of SCC was 0.47. Corynebacterium bovis and Strep. agalactiae had the highest intraclass correlation within cow, and Streptococcus dysgalactiae had the lowest. Analytical methods were proposed to manage the problem of interdependence and its effect on the design or evaluation of field studies on subclinical mastitis.

Key Words: somatic cell count • mastitis • interdependence • quarter

Submitted on September 16, 1996
Accepted on February 14, 1997

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