The aim of this study was to examine whether ultrasonography can be used to predict the outcome of clinical mastitis in dairy cows. Forty‐seven mastitic quarters of Holstein‐Friesian cows were examined using ultrasonography at the time of the first examination. In mastitic mammary tissue, three sonographic signs indicating tissue abnormality were found: a hyperechoic spot in the parenchyma area, structural changes to the milk duct, and non‐homogeneous parenchyma. Logistic regression was used to evaluate whether the abnormal findings in the sonographic images can be used to predict the outcome of clinical mastitis. The outcomes of clinical mastitis were defined by the return, or failure to return, to marketable milk production. The sonogram finding of non‐homogeneous parenchyma in the first examination did predict the outcome of clinical mastitis, whereas the type of systemic symptoms (severe or moderate) was not a predictor in this regression model. Therefore, ultrasound examinations of mammary glands in the first examination could be a useful method for predicting outcome of clinical mastitis. There is an economic benefit if ultrasound examination in first examination helps in the decision of whether or not to treat the mastitic cows.

中文翻译：

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使用超声对奶牛进行临床乳腺炎首次检查的结果预测。

本研究的目的是检查超声检查是否可用于预测奶牛临床乳腺炎的结果。在第一次检查时，使用超声检查检查了 47 个乳腺肿胀的 Holstein-Friesian 奶牛。在乳腺组织中，发现了三个表明组织异常的超声征象：实质区域的高回声点、乳管结构改变和非均质实质。Logistic回归用于评估超声图像中的异常发现是否可用于预测临床乳腺炎的结果。临床乳腺炎的结果由恢复或未能恢复到可销售的牛奶生产来定义。第一次检查中发现非均质实质的声像图确实预测了临床乳腺炎的结果，而全身症状的类型（重度或中度）并不是该回归模型中的预测因子。因此，首次检查乳腺超声检查可能是预测临床乳腺炎预后的有用方法。如果在第一次检查中进行超声检查有助于决定是否治疗乳腺炎奶牛，则具有经济效益。