This study aimed to monitor the mammary health of 37 multiparous Murrah buffaloes through infrared thermography (IRT). Based on the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and milk somatic cell counts (SCC), buffaloes were grouped into healthy (H, n = 16), subclinical mastitis (SCM, n = 10), and clinical mastitis (CM, n = 11). Buffaloes were milked twice daily in the morning (5:00–6:00 AM) and evening (5:00–6:00 PM). Rectal temperature and respiratory rates were recorded, CMT was performed and thermal images of the mammary gland of all the buffaloes were taken before and after each milking. Milk samples were analysed after each milking for SCC, fat, Solids-Not-Fat (SNF), density, protein, lactose, salts, conductivity, and pH immediately in the laboratory from fresh milk samples. The surface temperature of the periocular region of both the eyes, muzzle, flank, and vagina were also taken. Thermal images were used to assess the surface temperature of the udder (USST), teat apex (TAT), teat barrel (TB1T), teat base (TB2T), and teat skin surface (TSST). Eye and USST showed significantly higher temperatures (p < 0.05), whereas skin surface temperatures (SST) of different body parts were non-significant in both SCM and CM animals than buffaloes in the H group. Milk SCC showed a positive correlation with conductivity (r > 0.7), salts, and pH (r < 0.6) and a negative correlation with fat, SNF, density, protein, and lactose. TAT, TB1T, TB2T, TSST, and USST were positively correlated with milk SCC. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis of H and SCM groups showed that USST before milking had optimum sensitivity (Se = 0.80) and specificity (Sp = 0.906) among the various skin temperatures recorded. Thermal images captured during the morning showed higher sensitivity compared to images taken in the evening. Results indicate IRT can be used to monitor the mammary health of buffaloes but using IRT in conjunction with milk SCC can help in the accurate prediction of SCM in dairy buffaloes.

本研究旨在通过红外热成像 (IRT) 监测 37 头经产穆拉水牛的乳腺健康状况。根据加州乳腺炎测试 (CMT) 和乳汁体细胞计数 (SCC)，水牛被分为健康 (H，n  = 16)、亚临床乳腺炎 (SCM，n  = 10) 和临床乳腺炎 (CM，n  = 11) ）。水牛每天挤奶两次，早上（5:00–6:00 AM）和晚上（5:00–6:00 PM）。记录直肠温度和呼吸频率，进行 CMT，并在每次挤奶之前和之后拍摄所有水牛乳腺的热图像。每次挤奶后，立即在实验室中对新鲜牛奶样品的 SCC、脂肪、非脂肪固体 (SNF)、密度、蛋白质、乳糖、盐、电导率和 pH 值进行分析。还测量了双眼眼周区域、口吻、胁腹和阴道的表面温度。使用热图像评估乳房 (USST)、乳头顶端 (TAT)、乳头筒 (TB1T)、乳头基部 (TB2T) 和乳头皮肤表面 (TSST) 的表面温度。眼睛和 USST 显示出显着较高的温度 ( p  < 0.05)，而 SCM 和 CM 动物中不同身体部位的皮肤表面温度 (SST) 与 H 组中的水牛相比并不显着。牛奶 SCC 与电导率 ( r  > 0.7)、盐分和 pH ( r < 0.6)呈正相关 ，与脂肪、SNF、密度、蛋白质和乳糖呈负相关。 TAT、TB1T、TB2T、TSST 和 USST 与牛奶 SCC 呈正相关。 H 组和 SCM 组的接受者操作特征 (ROC) 分析表明，挤奶前的 USST 在记录的各种皮肤温度中具有最佳敏感性 (Se = 0.80) 和特异性 (Sp = 0.906)。与晚上拍摄的图像相比，早上拍摄的热图像显示出更高的灵敏度。结果表明，IRT 可用于监测水牛的乳房健康，但将 IRT 与牛奶 SCC 结合使用有助于准确预测奶牛的 SCM。