title: Electrical conductivity of milk: measurement, modifiers, and meta analysis of mastitis detection performance.
abstract: The physics, physiology, and pathology of electrical conductivity of milk are described. Based on a meta analysis, the use of electrical conductivity as a mastitis detection tool is discussed. Most reports were based on subclinical mastitis data. The gold standards of the different reports are discussed. With an overall sensitivity of 66% and an overall specificity of 94%, the predictive value of a positive electrical conductivity test remains low in a low prevalence population. The use of on-line systems for clinical mastitis detection is discussed. On-line systems that combine multiple data and perform multifactorial analyses will be of interest to the dairy industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Herd Health and Reproduction, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nielen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deluyker
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Schukken
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005260:Female; D007256:Information Systems; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008892:Milk / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests