In news– Utilising indigenous knowledge systems shared by a farmer from Gujarat, a poly-herbal and cost-effective medicine has been developed to treat Mastitis disease.
Mastirak Gel-
- National Innovation Foundation (NIF), which reinvigorates indigenous technologies based on farmer’s wisdom, has identified this unique herbal composition shared by a farmer from Gujarat for control of mastitis among farm animals.
- A gel preparation has been developed for topical application over the affected udder surface, and a patent has been filed for this composition shared by Shri Becharbhai Samatbhai Devgania.
- It was found that the medication could minimize Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and improve the udder health.
- The polyherbal medicine reduced inflammation which is detrimental to the udder.
- This critical analysis of the indigenous knowledge system led to development of value-added commercial product Mastirak with the support of industry partner Rakesh Pharmaceuticals.
- Dairy owners in eight states of the country — Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh have benefited by adopting Mastorak-anti mastitis herbal medication.
It has reduced the use of antibiotics and helped in the cost-effective management of the disease.
About Mastitis disease-
- It is an infectious disease of dairy cattle.
- Bovine mastitis is a condition typified by the persistent and inflammatory reaction of the udder tissue due to either physical trauma or infections caused by microorganisms.
- The most obvious symptoms of clinical mastitis are abnormalities in: The udder such as swelling, heat, hardness, redness, or pain.
- The milk has a watery appearance, flakes, clots, or pus.
What is Somatic Cell Count (SCC)?
- A somatic cell count (SCC) is a cell count of somatic cells in a fluid specimen, usually milk.
- Primarily, SCC is composed of leukocytes, or white blood cells, that are produced by the cow’s immune system to fight an inflammation in the mammary gland, or mastitis.
- Ideally, an individual cow cell count should be between 100,000 and 150,000.
- In dairying, the SCC is an indicator of the quality of milk—specifically, its low likeliness to contain harmful bacteria, and thus its high food safety.
- White blood cells (leukocytes) constitute the majority of somatic cells in question.
The number of somatic cells increases in response to pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, a cause of mastitis.
Source: PIB
