Mastitis disease

Mastitis disease

Part of: Prelims and GS-III – Agriculture 

Context Utilising indigenous knowledge systems shared by a farmer from Gujarat, a poly-herbal and cost-effective medicine has been developed to treat Mastitis disease.

Mastirak Gel

• National Innovation Foundation (NIF) has identified unique herbal composition shared by a farmer from Gujarat for control of mastitis among farm animals. 
• A gel preparation has been developed for topical application over the affected udder surface, and a patent has been filed for this composition 
• It was found that the medication improve the udder health. 
• It reduced inflammation which is detrimental to the udder.
• Dairy owners in eight states of the country — Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh – have benefited by adopting Masirak-anti mastitis herbal medication. 
• It has reduced the use of antibiotics and helped in the cost-effective management of the disease.

About Mastitis disease

• It is an infectious disease of dairy cattle.
• Bovine mastitis is a condition typified by the persistent and inflammatory reaction of the udder tissue due to either physical trauma or infections caused by microorganisms. 
• The most obvious symptoms of clinical mastitis are abnormalities in: The udder such as swelling, heat, hardness, redness, or pain.
• The milk has a watery appearance, flakes, clots, or pus.