Retrospective study on the incidence of traumatic teat injury in cattle (2024-2025)

Introduction

The maintenance of optimal udder and teat health is crucial in modern dairy management, as pathological conditions affecting these structures adversely impact lactational performance and lead to significant economic losses in the dairy industry. The teat sphincter and teat canal form essential components of the mammary gland's innate defence system serving as primary physical and immunological barriers against microbial invasion (Rainard and Riollet, 2006) [11] . Structural or functional impairment of these barriers predisposes the gland to various pathological conditions. Furthermore, disruption of the teat canal's integrity facilitates bacterial invasion with milk providing a favorable medium for microbial proliferation and infection establishment (Stavropoulou and Bezirtzoglou, 2022) [9] .

Materials and Methods

The incidence study was conducted on various teat affections at Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu from October 2024 to September 2025. Details regarding age, breed, number of calving, stage of lactation and etiology of the injury were recorded.

Results and Discussion

A total of 2,265 bovine cases was presented to Large Animal Surgery Unit, VCC, VCRI, Namakkal during the study period. Among them, 135 animals (5.96%) were diagnosed with various teat affections. The incidence of various teat affections are as follows teat obstruction (62.22%) (n=84), teat laceration 17.03% (n= 18), teat fistula 2.96% (n=4), thelitis 12.60% (n=17), teat papilloma 4.44% (n= 6), foreign body in the teat 2.22% (n=3), lactolith 0.74% (n=1) and supranumerary teat 1.48% (n=2). Of the affected animals, cows and buffaloes accounted for 92% and 8%, respectively. This is in accordance to the study conducted in cattle by Premsairam et al., (2020) [8] who reported that the incidence of teat injuries in milch cattle as stenosis (31.5%), laceration without perforation (22.2%), skin wound (21%), rupture or splitting (20%) and perforating injury (4.9%). Out of 135 animals, 22 traumatic teat injuries will be taken for incidence study. Details regarding age, breed, number of calving, stage of lactation and etiology for injury were recorded. Agewise incidence revealed 36.36% (n=8) of the animals were aged between five and six years, 18.18% (n=4) between six and seven years, 13.63% (n=3) between three and four years, four and five years, 9.09% (n=2) between seven and eight years, two and three years. The highest incidence between 5-6 years may be due to peak period of lactational and productive activity. During this stage, animals are generally in full milk production resulting in larger and more pendulous udders with increased exposure predisposing them to accidental trauma. This is in accordance with Aruljothi et al., (2012) [1] who reported that highest incidence of teat affection was reported in the age group of 3 to 7 years. Regarding the calving age, 36.36% (n=8) of the cases occurred during the third calving, followed by 31.81% (n=7) during the second, 9.09% (n=2) during the first, 13.63% (n=3) during the fourth calving and 9.09% (n=2) during fifth calving. This is in contrary to Kadu and Gahlod (2013) [3] who reported the highest percentage of teat affections occurred during second parity. Breed-wise incidence for traumatic teat injuries accounted 54.54% (n=12) of Crossbred Jersey, 27.27% (n=6) were Holstein Friesian crossbreeds, 9.09% (n=2) were Gir and 9.09% (n=2) were Sahiwal. This may be due to the high population of and owner's preference in rearing crossbred Jersey and Holstein Friesian cows for their high milk yield. The Breedwise incidence were in accordance with Nouh et al., (2014) [7] and Kanjanadevi (2017) [4] who reported that cross bred jersey is more susceptible to traumatic teat injuries. Among the lactation period, highest incidence was recorded in early lactation (Fig 1). This may be due to udder becomes fully distended with milk resulting in increased tension on the teat tissues and reduced elasticity, which predispose the teats to mechanical trauma. This coincides with the findings of Molaei and Ebrahimi (2013) [5] who stated that teat injuries were recorded during the first month after calving corresponding to the phase of high production. The increased frequency of such lesions around parturition may be attributed to udder engorgement and greater mobility of the animal during this period (Bristol, 1989) [2] The etiology wise highest incidence for traumatic teat injuries was self infliction followed by barbed wire (Table 1). This may be due to pendulous udders or elongated teats as these structures are easily struck by the hind limbs during such movements. This is in accordance with Mulon (2016) [6] who reported that overcrowding of animals with enlarged udders after calving in tie stall or free stall barns increases the risk of teat injuries either self-inflicted or caused by other animals.

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