Antitrypsin and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase as markers of mastitis in a herd of Ayshire cows.

Microplate analyzers for N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) and antitrypsin in milk were high-capacity systems for determination of subclinical mastitis on a mammary-quarter basis in a herd of 80 Ayshire cows. Infected quarters could be better differentiated from non-infected quarters by interquarter evaluation of milk NAGase and antitrypsin, than by adaptation of threshold values based on measured NAGase and antitrypsin values. This differentiation between healthy quarters and mastitic quarters was further improved by using absolute values and interquarter evaluations in combination. Therefore, quarter-based sample collection in combination with microplate technology and computerization is proposed as the method of choice for monitoring udder health in herds.