Assessment of Veterinarians’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Bovine Mastitis

The aim of this study was to obtain information on the approach of veterinarians to mastitis cases. It was conducted among clinical veterinarians in the Ereğli district of Konya province, which is located in central Türkiye and covers an area of 2,260 km². In this study, data were collected from surveys conducted with 52 veterinary clinics randomly selected from a total of 60 clinics in the Ereğli district of Konya province. Participants were asked to indicate their level of knowledge regarding the use of antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the diagnosis and treatment of mastitis, as well as their colleagues’ use of these drugs. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated by using Python language, whereas the graphs were plotted by using Excel, Python and R language. Chi-square, Fisher’s Exact Test and Friedman test were used as inferential statistics. Fisher’s Exact Test was applied to evaluate the association between categorical variables. In this study, veterinarians reported diagnosing mastitis in dairy animals primarily based on clinical findings (34%) and the California Mastitis Test (CMT) (31%). Fluid therapy (27%) and frequent milking (24%) were commonly mentioned as alternative management methods. Clinical indications (37%) were identified as the main factor influencing their selection of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Most respondents rated their own and their colleagues’ knowledge of antibiotics and NSAIDs as good or very good. Beta-lactams and fluoroquinolones were the most frequently preferred antibiotics, with professional experience cited as the primary source of information for prescribing decisions. In conclusion, effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mastitis rely heavily on enhancing the knowledge and experience levels of veterinarians, as well as ensuring the appropriateness of the protocols followed. In mastitis diagnosis, the use of tests to isolate the causative agent and promote targeted treatments is crucial for both reducing treatment durations and mitigating the risk of antimicrobial resistance. Achieving these objectives requires not only legislative measures but also investments in improving the necessary infrastructure and support systems.