Infrared thermography as diagnostic tool for bovine subclinical mastitis detection

Forty-eight Holstein cows were assessed using infrared thermography as non-invasive diagnostic tool for subclinical mastitis detection. The temperature analysis of animals negative in the California Mastitis Test has evidenced a difference between the mean temperatures in the front and rear quarters (p=0.001). The infrared thermography comparison between the rear quarters of animals positive and negative in the California Mastitis Test has not shown any difference (p=0.236), but the comparison of results of the front quarters has shown difference between the mean temperature of the infrared thermography of positive (32.35ºC ±2.35) and negative CMTs (31.00ºC ± 2.20 (p=0.025). The use of infrared thermography as diagnostic tool seems to be promising; however, it is necessary determining a protocol to guide its use.