Presence of pathogen DNA in milk harvested from quarters is associated to changes in cows’ milk yield and composition

Table 1 Number of cows in each pathogen group

Group	Level	Cows, n	Minor pathogens included^a			Other pathogens included^b
Group	Level	Cows, n	0	≤ 2	≥ 3	0	≤ 2	≥ 3
Absent pathogens^c		206
Major pathogens^c	≤ 2 quarters	248	111	84	53	209	27	12
Major pathogens^c	≥ 3 quarters	31	16	9	6	28	2	1
Minor pathogens^c	≤ 2 quarters	151
Minor pathogens^c	≥ 3 quarters	62
Other pathogens^c	≤ 2 quarters	42	18	16	8
Other pathogens^c	≥ 3 quarters	16	10	5	1

^aN. cows that had minor pathogens in addition to major or other pathogens
^bN. cows that had other pathogens in addition to major pathogens
^cPathogens of the commercial kit 'Mastitis 4BDF'. CNS indicates the coagulase-negative staphylococci

ISSN: 1746-6148