Prevalence, risk factors and major bacterial causes of bovine mastitis in and around Wolaita Sodo, Southern Ethiopia

species were identified from mastitic milk samples. The isolates based on their relative frequency of occurrence were Staphylococcus aureus (30%), Streptococcus agalactiae (17.78%), Escherichia coli (17.78%), Staphylococcus epidermids (13.3%), Corynebacterium bovis (12.2%) and Streptococcus dysgalactiae (8.9%). The prevalence of mastitis varied significantly (p<0.05) among breeds, where the highest prevalence was recorded in Jersey (60% (95% CI: 49.3, 70.7)), followed by Holstein-Zebu cross (30.8% (95% CI: 22.9, 38.7)) and Zebu (10.8% (95% CI: 5.6, 16.0)). It was also appreciated that lactation stage and parity significantly (p<0.05) influenced the occurrence of mastitis. Animals at early stage of lactation were severely affected with mastitis than at end and mid lactation stages. The prevalence of mastitis was found to have a direct relation with parity, as the occurrence of mastitis increased with parity. Inadequate sanitation of dairy environment and lack of proper attention to health of mammary gland were important factors (P<0.05) contributing to the prevalence of mastitis. Generally, the study showed that mastitis is an important problem and a serious threat for dairy industry in the study area. Therefore, appropriate control measures targeting the specific causative agents should be in place to reduce the impact of the disease. The farmers should also be aware of the impact of the disease and practice hygienic milking, culling of chronic mastitis carriers and treating of clinically infected cows.