The impact of rural extension on mastitis control in family farms in the Amazon region: a multi-case study

Milk production is of great national socioeconomic importance, but its production rates are far behind, and among the factors for this situation mastitis is the main disease, causing qualitative and quantitative losses in milk production. With this focus, the objective was to carry out a multi-case study to evaluate the impact of rural extension through technical assistance in the control of mastitis, consequently, in the improvement of milk quality on family farms. A multi-case study was conducted on five family farms located in the Amazon region. The rural extension was through technical visits and training, initially evaluating the risk factors for mastitis, together with a survey of SCC and TBC, and tests of CMT and black mug. After this stage a specific training was carried out on each property, showing the main points to be improved, and after 60 days of training, the survey of milk quality indexes was carried out again. The results showed a high prevalence of subclinical mastitis, mean 57%, and the observed risk factors were the absence of pre-dipping, post- dipping, drying of the teats with disposable paper, dark bottom mug test, TBC and milking line. After technical assistance CBT decreased by 75.98% and SCC 19.69%, and it was concluded that rural extension through technical assistance in milk quality improvement and mastitis control on family farms was efficient.